Subordinate Central have latched on to Jane Merrick’s column in the Independent this morning admitting it might to cheer themselves up after a few traumatic weeks.
1 It is an open, democratic party. Yes, doing everything by
committee and not allowing the leader much power over internal
discipline has been a disaster. But it is a thing to celebrate that,
generally, members and activists have a say in how their party is run –
they are a true grassroots movement. The Lib Dems have also followed due
process – this is important.
Well Openand Democratic to the extent that the Membership are ignored when they vote for something that might embarrass those elected like the legalisation pf cannabis. No different than any other party in fact.
2 They are not in hock to all-powerful union leaders or wealthy
donors who want to buy influence. OK, so the downside of this is they
don’t have much money, and their biggest donor, Michael Brown, turned
out to be a wrong ’un – but that was years ago. Today, the Lib Dems can
operate without fear or favour. Isn’t that refreshing, and an example of
the “new politics” that was promised after the expenses scandal?
Except Convicted fraudster and former Liberal Democrat donor Michael Brown was sentenced to a seven-year jail sentence,in 2012
Brown donated about £2.4 million to the Lib Dems ahead of the 2005 general election, its largest donation to date.They have constantly refused to return the money.
3 They can be proud of their record in government. Clegg and his
ministers can claim credit for the following: the pupil premium, where
£2.5bn has gone to fund schools with poorer children, a big Lib Dem
demand; free school meals for all infant pupils from next September;
cutting taxes for all earners by raising the income tax threshold to
£10,000 was a Lib Dem policy; and maintaining policies on tackling
climate change
.
Firstly there's no evidence that poorer children are directly benefiting from this money and mainlining what policy on climate change exactly?
4 They have acted as a check to Conservative excesses. The Lib Dems
in coalition have blocked the following: plans to allow employers to
fire at will; permitting schools to be run for profit; a £270,000
inheritance tax cut for the richest householders; an expensive
replacement for Trident; a two-tier exam system and old-style O-levels;
relaxed quotas for childcare; the “snoopers’ charter”; and plans to axe
the Human Rights Act.
But balanced of the decimating attack on the poorest members of our
communities including the Bedroom Tax it hardly washes away their sins
in largely agreeing to a Tory agenda. I wonder if after the next General Elections and if they are then in coalition with Ed Miliband's Labour what policies they might vote to abolish that they voted for in this government?
5 It is a party of renewal. Yes, the Lib Dems spent too long dealing
with allegations about Rennard and Hancock, were far too secretive about
Charles Kennedy’s drinking, and have a dreadful record on getting women
into Parliament. This might be because of size – in a larger party the
problematic individuals would be less prominent, and there would be more
women. But it can renew and refresh quickly – Clegg became an MP only
in 2005, and was leader two years later. And it has a record of
dispensing with leaders – and troublesome MPs – mercilessly and quickly.
Hm poor Ming Campbell was dumped because he was regarded by the media as too old. What record are we talking about could we have a few examples?
6 Because the party is small, it is pragmatic. Opponents may see this
as opportunism, pretending to be one thing in Constituency A and
another in Constituency B. Clegg was accused of hypocrisy over tuition
fees. But he did apologise. And one person’s opportunism is another’s
moderation – a balance against the polarised positions of the
Conservatives and Labour. In a era of coalition government,
this ability
to negotiate and compromise is a good thing.
This actually answers itself the Libdems not only promise one thing Constituency A and
another in Constituency B. But within a constituency but also door to door
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