The Week on WalesHome.org: Lib Dems are entitled to be heard
Bubble — By WalesHome on March 15, 2010 3:23 pmIN A WEEK in which Plaid and the SNP have thunderously contested their exclusion from the televised Prime Ministerial debates, it may seem odd to make the case for fairer coverage of the UK’s third party. Nick Clegg is, after all, assured his place in the debates despite a widespread belief that he has no chance of ascending to the office in which name these events are to be held. And it is that belief that leading to the process-driven and policy-free reportage of the Liberal Democrats. In interview after interview, analysis after analysis the only question the media appear to want answered is which of the other two Nick Clegg’s party will back in the event of a hung Parliament.
This infuriates the party’s leadership and grass roots, who fear the consequences of being seen to tilt one way and who grow exasperated at the absence of a platform upon which to set out their policies. But it ought to annoy us too, for it takes our behaviour as voters for granted and denies us the opportunity to scrutinise on an equal basis those who aspire to lead us. It is true that recent history and precedent dictates that the Lib Dems cannot do other than be an adjunct to two party politics. On polling day itself, however, all votes are reset to zero and we start all over again. The Lib Dems are standing as many candidates as Labour and the Conservatives, and their Parliamentary presence has increased markedly in the last few general elections. They are an independent political force, and in Wales can call forth both a formidable historical record and part-control of three of the biggest councils. Despite this, the only exposure voters get to the Lib Dems is speculation about what they might do in the event of one particular and peculiar electoral outcome. In a political environment in which voters seem fed up with Labour but far from enthused about the Conservatives this cannot be right. The Lib Dems go into this election having earned the right to be subjected to closer scrutiny than this.
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Tags: 2010 General Election
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1 Comment
The best possible outcome in this election will see the destruction of those parties that have betrayed their own principles.
The list is led by the Conservatives who have not undertaken to undo Thatcherism. Thatcher entered power with the nationalized industries worth the National Debt. Her incompetence was so great she sold off those assets and doubled the debt. Not Conservative! The global policies she supported are the root cause of the financial disaster now developing.
Equally bad comes the Labour Party. In their long occupation of power in Nos 10 and 11 they have carried forward Thatcher’s policies, and done things Thatcher dared not do. It was Lenin who said: “If you want to destroy a country/nation, first debauch its currency.” They do that and enrich those friends of theirs who bought the British Gold Gordon Brown sold off so cheap. They continue those Thatcher economic policies that ensure total disaster.
Was there a Plaid Cymru before Herbert Morrison and Ernest Bevin persuaded Labour Conference to renege on their commitment to Home Rule for Wales?
My personal grudge against the Lib-Dems is that they include the Social Democrats who split Labour to let in Thatcher. But I would rather see them making huge gains in England than many seats going to the BNP. What an interesting situation if the Lib Dems are the biggest party in a hung Parliament with the SNP and Plaid Cymru holding the balance of power.