The Lib-Con deal is the end of the Liberal-Social Democrat coalition – and an opportunity for Labour

By Julian Ware-Lane

A little over 29 years ago the Limehouse Declaration was issued. This led to the formation of the Social Democratic Party, eventually merging with the Liberal Party to become the Liberal Democrats.

This declaration included the following statement:

“We want to create an open, classless and more equal society, one which rejects ugly prejudices based upon sex, race or religion.”

A Cameron-led Conservative Party that befriends the far-right in Europe, promotes the interests of the super-rich and is pandering to right-wing Christian and anti-immigration voices is a million miles from this Liberal Democrat aspiration.

The SDP may have felt little in common with a left-wing Labour Party of the time, but it had far less in common with Thatcher’s Conservative Party.

The ugly coalition that has emerged overnight was a triumph for Orange Book Liberals, and has killed off any claims that Clegg’s party may have had to social democracy. The task of assimilating social democracy, started by Blair’s New Labour project, was finally completed last night.

Whilst it is clear that Lib Dem MPs have assuaged their consciences with talk of “the national interest”, many on the centre-left will have felt betrayed.

Punishment will come via the ballot box. In the meantime, the Labour Party has renewal on its mind, and last night’s events must be uppermost as they attempt to write the future.

I believe that Labour was right to occupy the centre-ground on many issues. Now that the Liberal Democrats have tied themselves to the Conservatives for the next five years, our pitch to the public must also address the concerns of those Lib Dem supporters who will feel disenfranchised by the Clegg-Cameron marriage.

The coalition of Liberals and Tories is the death knell for that other coalition, the liberal and social democrat coalition. This has presented Labour with an opportunity – this is the silver lining in that very dark cloud that hangs over all of us at the moment.