New Politics Throughout the campaign one of my mantras was "Vote Clegg, get Clegg" and unbelievably that is what's happened. Of course, I hadn't considered that we'd also get Eric Pickles, Theresa May, Ian Duncan Smith and bloody Michael Gove but somehow watching a giddy Vince Cable stepping up Downing Street to collect his job as Business Secretary went some way to cushioning the blow. Some. Way.
Yes, it's strange to see Nick standing behind a lectern next to David Cameron with the latter not deliberately misinterpreting his policies and it will be difficult for him to have to defend some of the more um, expressive, Tory policies in Prime Minister's Questions when the new PM is off abroad or ill. But he'll also technically be in charge of the country for a few stretches. Give or take, some give and take.
David Laws as Secretary to the Treasury, Osbourne's number two with Vince breathing down the new chancellor's neck too. That should make the budget make for interesting reading/listening. Danny Alexander as Scottish Secretary with David Mundell as his deputy. Chris Huhne possibly as Environment Minister in charge of a programme which includes the eradication of the extra airport runways in London.
The lambs and lions may be lying together but strangely this doesn't feel like the end of days. As requested in his statement last night, I'm going to trust Nick and the Liberal Democrats. Reading the coalition agreement I can't really believe how many Lib Dem policies are potentially going to implemented. The section on Civil Liberties is a jaw dropper. Stephanie Flanders has a run down of the tax policies.
What I will say, is that trust can only go so far. There's nothing in this document about culture or non-environmental science. It's in these areas I'd look to the Lib Dems to also have a hand in shaping policy, in not standing by and letting Murdoch's claws crush our rich media landscape for his own ends. In other words, if they fuck with the BBC, I'm going to the Greens.
5 comments:
I suspect 'let them fuck up the Beeb and I'm off' may be a familiar LibDem refrain.
Trust the Lib Dems? Are you insane? I can see why you would want to spin this but come on! This is the same Clegg who said a hung parliament would be a disaster and the same Clegg who scoffed at the idea of a party coming third in the election and still welding power. And now look...
If they manage to hold it together (they won't) then the share of the Lib Dem vote at the next election will plummet. And it's everything they deserve.
"Trust the Lib Dems? Are you insane?"
No, I'm a Lib Dem supporter. I know that these days the two things aren't entirely at variance. But like I said, pretty much, the Libservatives are on notice ...
I feel there is just too much history and enmity between the two parties (several centuries worth, in fact) for this coalition to last five years.
I wouldn't want it to anyway. British politics is founded upon the division between Tories and Whigs (the Liberals' antecedents). Seeing them dividing up their spoils turned my stomach, I'm afraid.
I imagine - I hope - Clegg will pull the plug in a couple of years or so, once the novelty's faded, we've had the AV referendum, and the party has lost hundreds of local councillors. It'll be fascinating to see what the opinion polls say over the next few months.
Anyway, what on earth are the Lib Dems doing snuggling up with Theresa May, the new home secretary and "equalities minister" and a woman who voted against equalising the age of consent, against gay adoption and for Clause 28? What happened to three-party politics?!
Well, yes, this could be a long con. The Lib Dems go in, risk all, get what they need then melt away at the quickest opportunity leaving Cameron with Clegg in his face.
Post a Comment