Who would have thought, even a year ago, that the future of the Liberal Democrats would arouse such interest? Perhaps I was too harsh on Nick Clegg’s speech to the party’s conference; certainly Fraser was more impressed by it and the gang at Liberal Vision also seem pleased.
Perhaps I was wrong to hope that Clegg would disavow the social democrats in his party in this speech. One should always be wary of criticising politicians simply because they decline to do what you would have them do. Equally, one should not assume that doing what one would want them to do is the path to either political or policy success.
Clearly there needs to be a “nevertheless” here. So, nevertheless, it’s interesting to learn that Clegg has been talking to Guido Westerwelle, leader of Germany’s Free Democrats. Here, more than anywhere else in europe, is a model for the Lib Dems that could lead them to a more interesting and, yes, more coherent place.
Much of Westminster seems to think that falling to 15% in the polls is the beginning of the end for the Liberal Democrats.
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