by Andrew Sumner
I’m with Pete Bowyer on this one. The Lib Dems behaviour over the past few years has been shameful. Actions must have consequences. Their betrayal of the British people must not be rewarded with a cosy coalition with Labour. What will the public think to see the apologists for Osborne’s austerity climbing into bed with Labour and securing their own jobs while thousands have lost theirs?
If we are serious about opposing this government then the Lib Dems are every bit as much to blame as the Tories. Those who back a Lib Lab pact can talk about issues like House of Lords reform or constitutional change but these are for the chattering classes. On the things that really matter, on jobs, the health service, education and welfare, we couldn’t be further apart from the Tories’ current partners.
Besides, in practical terms, it’s difficult to see how they walk back from the disgraceful policies that they have done their level best to pass in the House of Commons. So no, we shouldn’t be playing nicely with the Lib Dems, we should be fighting them and doing our best to wipe them out.
Andrew Sumner is a Labour activist
Tags: 2015 election, Andrew Sumner, Lib Lab pact, Pete Bowyer
I tend to agree.
1. They make electoral promises.
2. They lied.
eg. Tuition fees. Not surprising they aren’t playing ball on the right of recall.
Meanwhile look at what you’ve done to the poor. They are going to be destitute because you took their NI, gave it away, and hide the debt of the books.
ONS estimates the state owes people 5,010 bn for pensions.
On taxes of 550 bn a year, there isn’t a hope in hell of making good there.
Given that a median wage earner would have had a pension of 19K a year, RPI linked, joint life, from 65, its clear that you really have screwed the poor over.
A lot of ‘activists’ see the Lib Dems as just neutered cats, who just happen to be around and you give them a pat on the head every now and then. But they are a Party in their own right and have an ethos, which I don’t wholly agree with.
When it came to standing up and being counted and taking the very difficult decision to go into Coalition, they didn’t flinch, although many felt it would be like supping with the Devil and would have an adverse effect on their own standing. But sometimes Parties have to take some responsibility in times of crisis and not gad about like blue arsed flies.
Labour has been trying to wipe out the Liberals since the 1920s and we have failed. In fact Labour tends to do better when there is a high Liberal vote and the Tories do better when there is a low Liberal vote. Wiping out the Lib Dems is likely to result in permanent Tory government.