And when you 'normalise' the EU comparisons for North Sea Oil's £70 billion bonanza, how does Britain do? How does it compare to Norway, for example, which had a similar bonanza?

Well, since we haven't got a written constitution, people can write down anything they want to which doesn't break the law (or maybe Constitutional Convention). But if the government repeatedly lost a Confidence Vote - for example because the Conservatives were trying to force through something the LibDems disagreed with, coalition notwithstanding - it's hard to see how this agreement than has any legal or binding character.

But isn't it in there to protect the LibDems and not the Conservatives?

Andrew

Two other advantages to add to your list:
1. The government of the day loses its political advantage in being able to manipulate the election date
2. Turnouts in council elections would also be higher (as they were this year) - generally up from the 30% to the 60% mark.

Andrew