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?”
Anon E Mouse
Lady J – Last time Brown offered a referendum on Lisbon – his words are worthless. He never got his mandate, the games’s up – he’s been rumbled.
It’s over for Labour thanks to Brown losing the election and everybody now needs to just move on and await what comes next for Labour. Luckily it won’t be Brown or McNaulty (thank god for the electorate in his ward) and the like.
Let’s all look forward to a new politics where Labour get positive and start telling the truth instead of smearing people whose views they don’t share…
Bill Kristol-Balls
@ Will
Am I right in thinking that Brown does not have the votes in the PLP to get a referendum bill through the Commons even with the support of the Lib Dems, Nats and Green Party.
Will Straw
@Bill
That’s a very good question and I think it all depends on what’s on the table. If it was a referendum on AV then it was in the Labour manifesto and MPs would struggle, I think, to block it (although one or two almost certainly would). But if the referendum was on AV+, STV or some other form of PR (ie going further than the Labour manifesto), I think it could split the party.
Will
Billy Blofeld
Tick, tick, tick, tick……… the irrelevance of opposition is getting nearer….. the people have spoken and the corrupt and incompetent Labour government are not favoured.
Surely progressives everywhere will now be delighted that at last the Lib Dems will get a whiff of power and influence…….. they should be supported in hammering out a workable deal with Call-Me-Dave.
Labour has left the country as a smouldering ruin, Cleggy and Call-Me-Dave deserve our best wishes to clear up after Labour’s 13 year shit storm.
Personally I’m all for some form of proportional representation….. fingers crossed they can thrash something out.
Coalition of the miserable « Freethinking Economist
[…] Jackie Ashley also thinks Nick Clegg faces a no-brainer. LeftFootForward is scooping up as much evidence as possible that the delivery of PR is a red line issue for LibDem activists. And this tweet from […]