You are here: Home » Comment »

Convenient whipping boys or villains?

April 30, 2012 2:36 pm

Author:

Tags:

Share this Article

Respected opinion, backed by polling evidence, suggests that this Thursday will be a nightmare for the Liberal Democrats. Many decent councillors will be ejected, and those that do hang on will do so more through avoidance by the electorate of less palatable alternatives. Still enthusiastic Liberal Democrat supporters are very thin on the ground.

My home ward in Southend-on-Sea sees the Liberal Democrat group leader engaged in a neck-and-neck race with the Tory candidate. If Graham Longley survives it will be less a personal endorsement than the wish to avoid one more Tory in the council chamber. Were Labour a closer third place then I would have no doubt about our chance for a gain.

The Lib Dems had little choice but to go into coalition. The rejection of Gordon Brown and Labour made this inevitable. Very few Labour supporters believed a Lib-Lab pact was possible. The existence of the coalition is not what irks those of us on the centre-left, but rather its nature. Yellow claims that the a Conservative  majority Government would have been far worse just does not wash – it seems that the coalition has been the cover to go farther right than even Margaret Thatcher would have dared.

There is much to be admired in good old-fashioned Liberal values – I am an electoral reformer and share the Howard League for Penal Reform’s beliefs on crime and punishment. Who would turn back the clock on divorce or abortion except those on the extreme right? And whilst the Labour Party was born from the failure by the Liberals to adequately represent the working classes, the early years were characterised by cooperation.

There is little evidence of liberal values in today’s party. Despite feeble attempts to distance themselves from Government on occasion, the reality is seen in the lobby. Liberal Democrats voted to cut police numbers, voted to cut taxes for the very richest, voted to privatise the NHS.

I see a long tradition of attempting to be all things to all men unravelling now that the light of being in power is upon them. Labour activists have long had the problem of campaigning against Liberal Democrat opponents who have been able to say, and until now get away with, all sorts of things in the chase for votes. Now there is nowhere to hide.

I shall answer my own question: they are villains. Their fingerprints are on every piece of damnable legislation being passed in this Parliament. I hope every one of them is shown the door this Thursday.

Related posts:

  1. The boys who cried fox
  2. Let’s hear it from the boys
  3. Even more jobs for the boys
  4. Cameron rolls out more jobs for the boys
  5. The old boys’ club doesn’t care about gender equality
  • KwaiChangCaine

    The Liberal Democrat party has sown the wind and will now reap the whirlwind.

    • Dave Postles

       I really hope so.

  • Mike Homfray

    At least you know where you stand with the Tories. I feel the LibDems are a principle free zone and I can’t really see what their purpose is other to act as cover for the Tories. I hope every last one of them loses their seat on Thursday

  • Markroper99

    However you forget that the large percentage of people who have consistently voted liberal (note the use of small l) are not going to easily come straight over into the Labour camp – including me. And of course we are only two years into a five year Parliament which will run its course. Much will happen……

  • Alexwilliamz

    I have to say that we arfe seeing nationally what many of us have seen locally for many years. A party that seems to flounder for a clear purpose when in positions of power. Its historical agenda has been hijacked by the tories on one hand (free trade etc) and as the voice of radicalism by Labour. During the Blair years it seemed to be retaking some of that radical, protest ground but this coalition has strangled that identity dead. All it is left with is as an apologist for the government, in many ways I see quite a few similarities between the role Blair played for Bush. His attempt to make a case that he was moderating the bigger partners more aggressive moves, yet in the end they were seen as one and the outcomes were even worse, because the support from Blair may well have meant Bush went further than he would have done without.

    I feel the same way about this coalition, had the tories had a very small majority I very much doubt they would have pursued half the extreme ‘reforms’ they have done. The Lib Dems have effectively given them a much bigger majority which means they can afford to lose the odd dissenter or rebel along the way.

    I also think that the country actually wanted a minority government in whcih the parties had to work together for the common interest, creatimg a moderation on policies and a demand on all to keep things clean and above board, because otherwise the other lot would give you a good kicking. Osbourne’s ridiculous refusal to change his policy being a classic example. In a minority gvt I’d imagine he would have had to make some concessions on growth stimulus in returrn for the support of a wider deficit cutting budget. The length of such a parliament would no doubt have been relatively short maybe 3 years or so, but again I’m not sure the public would have had an issue with that either. Please spare me the arguments about stability and markets, I just don;t buy that anyone could seriously believe that any combination of our parties could lead to some kind of disaster. You only have to look at Belgium to realise that the political part of the government is far form essential in keeping things going.

  • robertcp

    I really think that Labour supporters should get off our high horse about the Lib Dems.  Labour did some awful things after 1997 and left a mess for the coalition, for example, the worst recession since the 1930s and a massive deficit.  The Lib Dems will pay a price for going into coalition with the Tories but they are not villains.   We also need to remember that Labour will be lucky to get a majority in 2015, so Labour may have to work with what is left of the Lib Dems.

Latest

  • Featured Woolwich: The British people – and our politicians – have risen to the occasion

    Woolwich: The British people – and our politicians – have risen to the occasion

    By Mark Ferguson

    “We want to start a war” – Woolwich attacker “right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose” - Ingrid Loyau-Kennett Only 24 hours ago, news began to trickle through about a barbarous crime, committed on the streets of our capital city, in broad daylight. It seems that the murderers who attacked and brutally murdered a soldier felt they were acting in a way endorsed by their religious beliefs and their god. But to try and [...]

    Read more →
  • News

    Labour NEC Report – 21st May 2013

    By Johanna Baxter

    Party Organisation The General Secretary (GS) noted the party’s good performance in the recent Local, Mayoral and South Shields elections and thanked all members, activists and staff for their contribution to that success. The committee discussed the work of Blue State Digital who have been brought in to revolutionise the party’s use of new and social media as part of our suite of campaign tools. It was noted that Matthew McGregor, Head of Blue State Digital’s London Office and former [...]

    Read more →
  • News Labour’s London Assembly Leader responds to Woolwich attack

    Labour’s London Assembly Leader responds to Woolwich attack

    Following yesterday’s attack in Woolwich, Leader of the Labour Group on the London Assembly Len Duvall AM said: “The attack in Woolwich was horrific, the actions of local people in response and the head-teacher and staff at the school are a reflection of the values and strength of our community. “At this afternoon’s London Assembly Police and Crime Committee questions will be asked about yesterday’s attack and the response, and at a future assembly meeting we will come together to [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment If Labour is to build One Nation, it must be a safe and equal one for women

    If Labour is to build One Nation, it must be a safe and equal one for women

    By Ellie Cumbo

    Today End Violence Against Women (EVAW) releases a new report auditing the Government’s progress in acting to prevent violence against women and girls. And with the revelations from Operation Yewtree and group exploitation cases set to roll on for many months , we hope the response from Parliament, policy-makers and the media will be unanimous : that prevention must be at the top of the priority list for any government, of any colour, from now on. On that basis, it’s [...]

    Read more →
  • News The theories that will occupy security forces after Woolwich – Media roundup: May 23rd, 2013

    The theories that will occupy security forces after Woolwich – Media roundup: May 23rd, 2013

    Subscribers to our morning email get the best of LabourList – including the Media and blog round up – every weekday morning. If you were a subscriber you would have already received this in your inbox. You can sign up here. Woolwich – the theories that will occupy security forces “Counter-terrorism officers and security officials will doubtless fear that Woolwich fits into the category of crime that they can do little to thwart; random, lone-wolf, unsophisticated attacks, conducted by people who are not [...]

    Read more →