The politics of the Lib Dem conference
Peter Hoskin 10:49am
It's only gesture politics, but sometimes gestures matter – which is why the
Tories are thinking seriously about dispatching a party envoy to the Lib Dem conference in September. The idea, naturally, is to cement the bonds of friendship between the two sides, as well as to
suggest that the Tories are happy to mix it with the wider Lib Dem party. But there's a problem: that wider party doesn't seem eager to play along. As soon as there were rumblings that Cameron
might speak at their conference, they slapped the idea down with the
unswerving efficiency of an executioner. And they've done similar today in response to reports that William Hague is being lined to up deliver a "witty" address in
Cameron's stead. A party spokesman tells Lib Dem Voice that, "William
Hague is not part of the conference agenda and I can confirm that he has not been asked to speak at the Liberal Democrat conference."
Speaking to Lib Dems around Westminster, their main concern is that the Tories' outreach programme could start to look like a land-grab. The conference is their chance to speak and listen to the party leadership, they say, and they don't want any Tories wedging themselves into that process. But they do seem keener on having a Lib Dem minister, maybe Nick Clegg, speak at the Tory get-together in Birmingham. To them, that would show that the smaller party hasn't been subsumed by the larger one, and that it has an independent contribution to make to the process of government. It would symbolise that, as Danny Finkelstein put it, "there is a space for the Liberal Democrats as champions of liberalism".
In any case, you can expect more attention to be paid to this issue over the summer. The choreography of the party conferences is relatively petty stuff – but the message it sends out seems to matter deeply to scores of attendees, as well as to the government. As with all forays into uncharted territory, both sides will want to tread carefully.
Previous
TrevorsDen
August 7th, 2010 1:32pm Report this commentPetty stuff and pretty stupid of the LibDems.
Do they want to be in power or not.
Do they want 20% of the vote and to be perpetually derided by Labour in parliament or do they want to be in govt?
the dumb assed LDs should remember that its they who labour constantly shouted down in parliament. It was labour who effectively sneered at them post the election result.
Verity
August 7th, 2010 2:00pm Report this commentThey make me sick. All of them. Davey boy cannot grovel enough to ensure that he keeps his job for the next few months.
Paul Mullally
August 7th, 2010 2:36pm Report this commentSo Lib Dems can address the Tory Conference, but Tories can't address the Lib Dem one? Have your cake and eat it Cleggy!
crowbait
August 7th, 2010 2:51pm Report this commentCameron and Hague should be attending the Lib/Dem conference. Whether they should attend the Conservative show is another question. After all neither appears to give a damn about the party that almost elected them.
Verity
August 7th, 2010 3:36pm Report this commentThis post wins this week's prize for most uninteresting headline of the week. It promises a whole wadge of minutes of droning boredom.
2trueblue
August 7th, 2010 4:13pm Report this commentThe Lib Dems need a reality check, and to mature.
TGF UKIP
August 7th, 2010 7:04pm Report this commentAll irrelevant really, just a question of time before the sparks and shit fly as one of the LibDems jump ship in the most melodramatic and vituperative way possible, then the Coalition will evaporate, Clegg will be gone and within six months so will Dave and his mates. A Miliband (most likely Ed) will be in Downing Street before the end of 2012. Then the disaster that has been Dave will be laid bare.
Realist
August 7th, 2010 8:35pm Report this commentAnd Verity surely wins the prize for stupidest comment of the week:
"They make me sick. All of them. Davey boy cannot grovel enough to ensure that he keeps his job for the next few months."
What the hell are you on about? Still, same old Verity, same old rubbish.
yank
August 7th, 2010 10:14pm Report this commentGood on the Lib Dems... they're hitting the precisely right note here. They're a principled minority, and have an agenda apart from the Tories, which they will then formulate into a strategy for dealing within a coalition government. And they don't need Dave's help for any of this.
It makes perfect sense, tactically and strategically. Now, if Dave has any sense, he'll be posturing his side similarly, so that his backbenchers fully understand all the issues of coalition.
If the Lib Dems force a snap election, on principle, and have acted within mainstream public approval in doing so, I'd bet that they would suffer no worse in that election than they would have if they'd sold out completely to slickster Dave.
I sorta like this parliamentary business... it's interesting. Nothing like the 2 packs of snarling, snapping dogs we have over here (although it's fun to see one of the dogs get run over, once in a while).
Victor Southern
August 7th, 2010 10:30pm Report this commentVerity was doing his/her best - a whole post without yattering about Cameron's facial features. In fact two such posts. Must be a fiesta in Mexico.
The LibDems have never known what they want to be and that position has not changed. From a position of utter powerlessness and lack of responsibility for long ages, suddenly they share power. It is too much for them. They will just have to become Greens.
Sebastian Flyte
August 8th, 2010 6:53pm Report this commentSomeone needs to remind the Lib/Dems - they didn't win the election. Neither did the Tories. There is no mandate for this cuts agenda and the sooner there is another election to sort out where we are, the better. It would be sporting to wait until Labour have a new leader - but not much later.
Back to top