Why I Hate: The Liberal Democrats
Originally published at Anarkos on 7th March 2011
The fable of the Liberal Democrats fall from grace, from the dizzy heights of ‘Cleggmania’ to the current abysmal bi-election results, is not the usual tale of a Party failing to live up to manifesto pledges, it is an active breaking of a signed promise.
To make myself clear, I hate the Liberal Democrat Party. Many members, many individual ‘Lib Dems’, are kind, hard-working and even progressive people. But the leadership of the Party- Nick Clegg, David Laws, Danny Alexander are, to my mind, the worst kind of politicians. The reason for my belief is, as you may have guessed, the current policies of the Con-Dem Government and the seemingly gleeful way in which the Liberal Democrat Ministers support them. But the reason for the vehemence of my anger at this betrayal is because there are only two possible reasons.
One, Power. If this is the reason they abandoned their beliefs, for some second rate cabinet positions then my disgust is unlimited.
But the fact is its worse. The true story behind the Liberal Democrats policy changes is a profound, pre-meditated ideological betrayal. The Orange Book was written in 2004 as a prospective manifesto, by David Laws, with contributions from Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Ed Davey and Chris Huhne. It outlined a move from modern Social Liberalism, with its focus on Social Justice to a Classical Liberalism most recognisable from the economic policies of Thatcher’s New Right. Ideas included support for Tory plans for ‘Free Schools’, further privatisation, even for the NHS, and unfortunately for thousands of young people and the nations intellectual health, tuition fees rises, not cuts as promised. However, the simple fact is that this was rejected by the Party at Conference, it was shown to be unpopular and unworkable.
So, just like New Labour and the Tories, but hidden behind a veneer of honesty with a ‘new politics’ finish, the Liberal Democrat leadership ignored the Party, campaigned for progressive votes and then embarked on a ‘five year plan’ of cuts, privatisation and fees hikes. And that is why I hate the Liberal Democrats.
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