Spare a thought for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats. Their conference, one of the best chances for them to get some proper coverage, is being over-shadowed by the banking crisis and the Labour leadership plotting. This is a pity as the Lib Dems seem to be trying to reposition themselves on the political spectrum.
First, they have committed to cutting taxes and public spending. This is going to change the tone of the debate about this subject in a way that favours proponents of a smaller state. Second, they have de-emphasised their pro-Europeanism —an indication, as Andrew Neil notes, that they really are worried about losing their seats in the south-west to the Tories.
But the Lib Dems do appear to be genuinely moving towards a harder-edged liberalism. Vince Cable’s plan to make those in the public sector who are earning six figure salaries reapply for their jobs is an excellent idea and one—as Tim Montgomerie argues—that the Tories should adopt too. There has been a self-serving trend in recent years for agency officials to be awarded private sector-style salaries but with public sector levels of benefits and job security; this is something that a prudent government would clamp down on.
In a way, the Lib Dems missed their chance in 2005. This kind of Liberal Democrat platform could have far more successfully exploited unease with Michael Howard’s campaign and the Tory tone in 2005 than the one they ran on. This time out, they’re mostly trying to hang onto their Tory seats and trying to take Labour seats while moving rightwards. It is a complicated political straddle. If Labour were to get a new leader who moved the party in a populist, left wing direction, the Lib Dems could end up being squeezed from both sides.
Comments