The Liberal Democrats are heading into electoral oblivion, and they're heading there fast. The latest Sunday Times/YouGov poll gives them a paltry 9 per cent of the vote. If the party thought it would have recovered by now from the 2010 tuition-fees debacle, it must be sorely disappointed. The Lib Dems find themselves in serious trouble, less popular than their Conservative partners and fearful that any attempt to “front-up” on policy might trigger an early election and electoral armageddon.
So what should the Liberal Democrats do? More of the same. Look across government and you will see the Liberal Democrat tail tempering the wilder impulses of the Tory dog. Recent weeks have shown that the Liberal Democrats bring balance and thoughtful moderation to a government that lacks these qualities. Recognition for this fine work may not yet flow through to the opinion polls, but continue in this vein and it will start to come.
Nick Clegg in particular seems to have found his voice. Take his response to Michael Gove’s proposals to scrap GCSEs. At face value, Gove’s policy seems likely to herald the return of a two-tier education system. It also risks placing huge strain on under-resourced schools in disadvantaged areas struggling to provide both of the new courses to their pupils.
As the story broke, the charge against it came not from Labour but from Nick Clegg, halfway around the world in Brazil. Clegg’s anger at the policy, which he said would “turn back the clock” and ensure millions of children were once more “cast on a scrap heap,” was matched by his chagrin at the way the policy had been leaked to the Daily Mail. Sensible opposition to any proposed reforms could offer a form of redemption for Nick Clegg on the very topic, education, for which he lost so much support back in 2010.
What is true for Nick Clegg is true for Liberal Democrats across government. Consider, for instance, the relative reactions of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to the issues raised by the Beecroft Report on employment law and Oxfam’s Perfect Storm Report on poverty in the UK. Whilst certain Tory MPs were euphoric at the prospect of watering down statutory employment rights and allowing small businesses to fire employees without providing a reason, the Liberal Democrats, and Vince Cable in particular, were dismissive of the Beecroft proposals. Vince Cable’s response to the Beecroft recommendation for no-fault dismissal was that, “in daily conversations with businesses, this has very rarely been raised with me as a barrier to growth.” The likely implementation of these reforms has since faded away, demonstrating that the Liberal Democrats can act to successfully block such proposals. If they can continue on this path, then they may well prove to the electorate that they do indeed have the power to influence government policy.
Oxfam’s Perfect Storm Report is rather more urgent than the musings of Michael Beecroft and it raises the kind of concerns that the Lib Dems must focus on. As the report makes clear, low wages mean that many people in employment still cannot pull themselves above the poverty line. The Lib Dems should take ownership of this topic and lead the charge for private sector responsibility in the provision of a living wage. For all of Vince Cable’s calls to rein in executive pay at the top, the Liberal Democrats must re-double their efforts on pay at the bottom.
On Europe, on welfare, on education and on the economy, the Tory party continues to be pulled to the right by its back-benchers. This is welcome news for the Liberal Democrats as it opens up political space for them. Nick Clegg and his party have had a good few months but they must ensure that they continue to capitalise should the Tory’s lose their way. If they can, then their ability to wag the Tory dog may just ensure their survival.
So what should the Liberal Democrats do? More of the same. Look across government and you will see the Liberal Democrat tail tempering the wilder impulses of the Tory dog. Recent weeks have shown that the Liberal Democrats bring balance and thoughtful moderation to a government that lacks these qualities. Recognition for this fine work may not yet flow through to the opinion polls, but continue in this vein and it will start to come.
Nick Clegg in particular seems to have found his voice. Take his response to Michael Gove’s proposals to scrap GCSEs. At face value, Gove’s policy seems likely to herald the return of a two-tier education system. It also risks placing huge strain on under-resourced schools in disadvantaged areas struggling to provide both of the new courses to their pupils.
As the story broke, the charge against it came not from Labour but from Nick Clegg, halfway around the world in Brazil. Clegg’s anger at the policy, which he said would “turn back the clock” and ensure millions of children were once more “cast on a scrap heap,” was matched by his chagrin at the way the policy had been leaked to the Daily Mail. Sensible opposition to any proposed reforms could offer a form of redemption for Nick Clegg on the very topic, education, for which he lost so much support back in 2010.
What is true for Nick Clegg is true for Liberal Democrats across government. Consider, for instance, the relative reactions of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to the issues raised by the Beecroft Report on employment law and Oxfam’s Perfect Storm Report on poverty in the UK. Whilst certain Tory MPs were euphoric at the prospect of watering down statutory employment rights and allowing small businesses to fire employees without providing a reason, the Liberal Democrats, and Vince Cable in particular, were dismissive of the Beecroft proposals. Vince Cable’s response to the Beecroft recommendation for no-fault dismissal was that, “in daily conversations with businesses, this has very rarely been raised with me as a barrier to growth.” The likely implementation of these reforms has since faded away, demonstrating that the Liberal Democrats can act to successfully block such proposals. If they can continue on this path, then they may well prove to the electorate that they do indeed have the power to influence government policy.
Oxfam’s Perfect Storm Report is rather more urgent than the musings of Michael Beecroft and it raises the kind of concerns that the Lib Dems must focus on. As the report makes clear, low wages mean that many people in employment still cannot pull themselves above the poverty line. The Lib Dems should take ownership of this topic and lead the charge for private sector responsibility in the provision of a living wage. For all of Vince Cable’s calls to rein in executive pay at the top, the Liberal Democrats must re-double their efforts on pay at the bottom.
On Europe, on welfare, on education and on the economy, the Tory party continues to be pulled to the right by its back-benchers. This is welcome news for the Liberal Democrats as it opens up political space for them. Nick Clegg and his party have had a good few months but they must ensure that they continue to capitalise should the Tory’s lose their way. If they can, then their ability to wag the Tory dog may just ensure their survival.
