Welcome to the Lib Dems

22/09/2009 by Steve Barclay.

It is really good news to see so many former Lib Dem members now joining the Conservative Party, and a sign of the change taking place in British politics.  Realistically only the Conservatives can end Gordon Brown’s Government.  It makes sense for former Lib Dem members who oppose Labour’s 42 days detection, want to scrap identify cards, and stop a third runway at Heathrow to vote Conservative to make these things happen. 

This shift is also being helped by the Lib Dem Leader himself, who seems increasing confused over the direction of his party’s policy.  At the start of their Party Conference this week the Lib Dem leader said he wanted “savage cuts” on public services and that they would have to scrap their pledge on tuition fees.  Former leader Charles Kennedy contradicted him, as did other senior Lib Dem MPs like Evan Harris.  So now he is saying they may not scrap their pledge on tuition fees after all.  Confused?  If so, don’t try to understand their policy on child benefit - again the Lib Dem Leader said they might introduce means testing of child benefit, before their Work and Pensions spokesman intervened and said there would keep it as it is. 

Unfortunately the Lib Dem leader has form for such confusion over his policy.  After promising a referendum on the European Constitutional treaty in their election manifesto, the Lib Dem Leader then bizarrely imposed a three line whip on his MPs to abstain when the vote took place.  He could not even make up his mind whether to vote yes or no on the most important vote in this Parliament!  Nor is he able to come clean and say what he would do in the future if there is a hung parliament after the next election.  This is the key circumstance when his opinion would really matter, and yet he tells the public it is a secret.  He will decide behind closed doors without telling them before they vote.  How long will it be until the Lib Dem members who are left rebel and install Vince Cable as their new Leader to provide some direction? 

With most current Lib Dem MPs in former Conservative seats, whilst their next generation of Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidates with the best chance of winning are in Labour seats, the tension and confusion over the direction of their policy is likely to get worse.  However after only managing 14% of the vote in the European elections, it is right that Lib Dem members increasingly see the Conservatives as the best way to deliver change on civil liabilities, the environment and localism.  These are three key values for many Lib Dem members, and are at the heart of Conservative policy for the 21^st century. 

Any Lib Dem member in North East Cambridgeshire wanting to join us should please get in touch with me.

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