The end of the Lib Dem-Labour dream

With reports that the talks between Liberal Democrats and Labour have ended in failure, the imminent prospect of some form of coalition pact between the Lib Dems and Conservatives seems much more likely, with a minority Tory government still a possibility. But with speculation that Gordon Brown, who has already announced his resignation, might be out of Downing Street by tonight, hopes for a " progressive alliance ", which yesterday received such a fillip , seem vanishingly remote. Various senior Labour figures have either been public in their opposition to a Lib Dem-Labour deal (John Reid, David Blunkett, Diane Abbott), or are reported to have raised objections in a cabinet (Andy Burnham, Jack Straw and others). Equally, Nick Clegg and Vince Cable seem to be leaning more towards a deal with the Conservatives, against the preference of party grandees like David Steel and Paddy Ashdown. So who, or what, do you blame for the dashed hopes of a centre-left "rainbow coalition"?