David Cameron has made a “big, open and comprehensive offer” to the Liberal Democrats. It included the possibility of all party committee of inquiry on Electoral Reform. Will it be enough for the Lib Dems?
Lib Dem Voice say “Cameron offers … er, not very much really”:
“Cameron looked to be offering only one new proposal: a cross-party commission on electoral and political reform.
“That of course was Blair’s offer in 1997 which subsequently turned to dust.”
Nothing yet from Lib Dem Voice (which seems to have fallen over) but Meanwhile, a range of other Lib Dems have set out their opinion:
• Lib Dem councillor and prominent tweeter, Sara Bedford says: “The LibDems are looking for a meaningful relationship, not a one night stand. Looks like we might be remaining single, then?”
• Blogger Mark Thompson replies to a question on his views: “Sounds like change from FPTP is being ruled out if I am reading this right. Not near a TV though. Just basing on tweets.”
• Lib Dem Alex Wilcock: “Cameron promises “committee of enquiry” on electoral reform. That’s what Heath said in 1974. We told him to sod off, too.”
• Alix Mortimer says, “Uh-oh. Long grass on PR.”
• Another Lib Dem, Matt (@Kopmatt88) says, “Completely against. Electoral reform is a must for any lib dem support.”
At Next Left, the Fabian Society’s Tim Horton (not a Lib Dem incidentally) says:
“For many progressive voters who voted Lib Dem on the grounds that they believed them to be a progressive party, a Lib-Tory coalition would be an outrage. (It certainly makes a mockery of the rather sanctimonious commentaries we have had in the liberal broadsheets, casting the Lib Dems as somehow more progressive than the Labour Party.) For many voters who believed Nick Clegg when he toured the country claiming to be the party of fairness, falling in with the Tories would be a betrayal.
“The real point to make in advance of any coalition talks is this: the Lib Dems should not entertain the idea that they can be part of a de facto coalition-by-abstention with the Conservatives whilst avoiding political fallout from the resulting Conservative actions. If they are tempted down this route, I suspect the Labour Party, together with many progressives up and down the country, would work very hard to ensure the Lib Dems paid a heavy political price for such behaviour amongst voters on the centre-left.”
UPDATE 15.35:
@JoChristieSmith: “Cameron come much further than expected; could be a trap but lets see how the negotiations go before dismissing the idea of them”
@SamJordison: “”No, no, no.” Better to make a deal with an adder’s fangs. He offered nothing real.”
@mrrmooseface: “No way dude! Hope Nick Clegg won’t betray us all – we need proportional representation”
@alexwilcock: “And after 13 years of Labour lying about it we’d be mad to trust them either!”
55 Responses to “Will the Lib Dems accept Cameron’s offer?”
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Mike
the lib dems will be crushed at the next election in south west
by their new lovers
britbox
Three things:
(1) Welcome to the big-time. The LibDems are now in the position where they cannot please all of the people all of the time. Whichever road you choose to go down, whether it means a pact with the Tories or a rainbow pact with half a dozen parties under Labour it will mean you lose votes at the next election. It will also mean you will cheese of some activists and supporters in the meantime. You are between a rock and a a hard place.
Whatever you choose to do will weaken your party in some areas.
(2) A coalition with 5 other parties will not provide a stable government. The market will react badly to this mish mash and you will pick up the lion’s share of the blame for putting the self-interest of the party before the national interest.
(3) Please don’t be foolish enough to think you will actually get 22% of the vote if proportional representation is brought in. A large number of those votes are tactical votes from “Anyone but Labour” or “Anyone but Conservative”. I’ve voted LibDem several times and it’s always been a tactical vote. I’d be surprised if you got close to 15% personally.
Proportional Representation translates to hung parliaments. It also means extremists groups like the BNP getting a foothold in mainstream politics. On the subject of hung parliaments, if the LibDems don’t help make this hung parliament work right now, then it will have huge repurcussions – the public simply won’t want it.
Some Electoral reform is needed, but sweeping statements suggesting that the public are demanding proportional representation are false. Polls show it to be around 50/50 so you could say that their is an equal demand for First past the post.