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Liberals and the phony coalition

Derek Bunce
12th May 2010 at 14:17
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From evidence over the past few days the Liberal Democrats have finally shown their true colours. After all, during the election they pretended to offer us all a radical alternative. However, once the first whiff of power entered Liberal nostrils it was transparent they would sniff the bones of Tory proposals like starving hyenas.

Personally, I feel sorry for the millions of Lib Dem voters who have been let down by Clegg and his fellow travellers. So much for the Liberal Democrat policy of “people power” – perhaps they should have added ‘when it is convenient’.

During pre-coalition negotiations with the Tories they fawned and whimpered in a miserable, sycophantic attempt to secure power. But when they met the Labour Party they demanded an additional £20bn of spending, without recommending how these costs would be covered. In addition, they insisted on immediate legislation to implement the Alternative Vote whilst with the Tories they grovelled when they were offered a referendum.

Now we know from experience and from the Thatcher years you cant trust the Tories – we now have evidence you can’t trust the Liberal Democrats either.

In the meantime, Gordon Brown held himself with dignity and his honourable resignation last night will be viewed by many with sadness. As Labour moves into opposition it opens a perfect moment for the party to eradicate the remaining elements of the New Labour project and steer towards the current vacuum on the left wing of politics. One can only hope that a unified left coax the party forward into an era of progressive socialism.

Undoubtedly these are exciting times for us and we can expect to find droves of disaffected radicals joining fellow left-wingers fighting what is sure to be an oppressive right-wing regime. However, before we celebrate too loudly please remember that many of these people were openly hostile to the socialist cause and will need a great deal of support and guidance before they can truly call themselves part of the Labour movement.

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