So, the good and the bad. I did promise, didn’t I? Well the section on Civil Liberties is better than any of us dared hope, thanks to the addition of a Freedom Bill/Great Repeal Bill which could cover anything not already cover. The list of things we know for a fact we’re getting includes:

ID Cards, Identity Register, Child Register and Next-Gen biometric passports? GONE

No Fingerprinting of Children without parental consent. SORTED

Extension of Freedom of Information Act. GOOD

A switch to Scottish model of DNA retention. AT LAST

Protection of right to trial by jury and right to non-violent protest. AWESOME

Reform of the libel laws to protect freedom of speech. SUPERB

And more. Seriously, there’s MORE. And this doesn’t include what might end up in the Great Repeal/Freedom Bill (HINT: Digital Economy Act three strikes, site blocking).

This is extremely promising and marks the first time our Government has done anything that I’ve gone, “Wow! Cool!” at for… well.. over ten years, I guess. I’m genuinely surprised and amazed and hope that this shows a willingness to be bold in this area.

The bad for me is the section on the ‘Green’ economy stuff, which represents quite an ambitious program of economic planning (irrespective of the perceived need to do so.) Will be interested to see if this gets the same focus and attention.

Back to good we have the end of child detention in immigration centres. On the bad side we appear to have merged the Lib Dem and the Tory policy on dealing with illegal immigrants. If you’ll recall, the Lib Dems intended to find some of the illegal immigrants and give them an amnesty to stay. The Tories wanted to deport them but can’t actually find them. The new policy is find them and deport them. Compromise, eh? Wonderful.

More on this as it sinks in and the actual behaviour of the Government becomes apparent… but put it this way: I’m a bit worried about the odds of getting pieces onto Liberal Central at the Guardian if the Coalition carries on like this. My career as a semi-professional writer may be killed off before it’s started.

Damn.

Leaked by Liberal Conspiracy. Looks pretty real. It’s big, so I’ve hidden it with SpoilerVision™

Yes please, show me the leaked agreement. I’m genuinely interested.

UPDATE: Turns out it was real after all. Now available on the Lib Dem website For Reals, Yo! THE AGREEMENT!

Brown resigning as Prime Minister any minute. No ‘Plan B’ for the Lib Dems, so they’re going to take it or they’re the world’s stupidest politicians on the planet. Let’s assume that they’re not, that the coalition deal is just too damn tasty for them to throw away their toys and go sulk with Labour on the opposition benches.

ID Cards? Doomed. Digital Economy Bill? Doomed.

I said on Twitter that I’d have been a bit deflated if the Tories had won outright on Friday morning… but now? Now I’m quite excited. I’m actually… well… happy. What is this curious emotion? Happiness? It’s uncomfortable and odd and I don’t think I like it.

More later as and when we get some actual bloody facts out of anyone at all.

UPDATE: Brown has resigned. Shown the world his young boys, too, which was a surprise. An emotional ending for him. Sarah looked crushed and choked, Brown looked like the weight of the world was finally of his shoulders. Barnacle Brown joke can now be retired. All told I think Brown’s character arc for this series of Government has had a great finale, but lacked variety during the bulk of the show.

Back to business then… Lib Dem MPs and the Federal Executive now have a choice. They can join the Government, with cabinet posts and the £10k allowance and if we’re really really lucky there’ll be some kind of Freedom Bill or Great Repeal Act. Or they can throw it all away and bring about another General Election in a few months time, which they can’t afford.

Excruciating that it’s not a done deal yet.