I don't think the depiction of Labour as having thrown their toys out of the pram is quite fair! Some of the party members, doubtless, but you're allowing all the minority parties (which includes Labour, presumably?) a 'what else were they to do?' get-out clause about negotiating in their own interests. I think Labour would have been setting themselves up to achieve absolutely nothing, while taking all the flak for their inability to achieve anything, had they gone much further than GB's announcement that he'd be resigning in order to tempt the Lib Dems into coalition. Not that I've much time for New Labour either, as you know, but I think there was a degree of wisdom in the choice you've outlined above, rather than it's having been purely childish 'Nyah, nyah, you can't make me!'

But that five-year term now being thrown around? Now that's scary.