The other path to Downing Street (that no-one wants to talk about)

If the polls are to be believed, no single party is likely to win the election later this week. To avoid the instability of another election later this year, our politicians must instead find ways to work together.

There is one sustainable coalition that nobody is talking about. Conservatives and Labour trumpet who they will not work with – but Cameron and Miliband are noticeably silent about the idea of working together in a Con-Lab coalition.

Is the idea so ridiculous? This May we celebrate the success of just such a Con-Lab coalition some seventy years ago. Then, politicians of all parties combined their talents in the national interest to bring World War II to a successful conclusion. To avoid such another global war reoccuring is perhaps the prime reason Britain is now so closely linked to Europe.

Today, we are still tackling the challenges of another destructive global threat – this time economic. Perhaps the polls' message is that voters want Labour and the Tories to 'man up' and jointly find solutions to our nation's multi-cultural needs: using public money to create a fair and equitable society through access to jobs, homes, education, health and care services for all who need them.

Britain can still be great place to live, work, play ... and visit. Is a Con-Lab coalition really so ridiculous? Idealistic; maybe. Radical; certainly. But no more visionary than reforming Parliament to accommodate the legitimate concerns of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and regions within England.

It all depends on this: whether Cameron, Miliband and the other party leaders have the guts to provide the leadership needed to achieve such hopeful visions. The discussion must be had – and quick.

Nick Westbrook is an industry expert in public consultation and engagement, and non-executive director at MyCommunity.net.