Former Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris has said his party and Labour need to be in a postion to form a progressive coalition after the next election.
Former Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris has said his party and Labour need to be in a postion to form a progressive coalition after the next election. The ex-MP for Oxford West and Abingdon – who reaffirmed his position as one of the leading Lib Dem progressives last week with an attack on Nick Clegg over the fairness of the budget – was speaking at a Compass fringe event on the “progressive alliance” at the Labour party conference yesterday.
Dr Harris said that “in terms of culture and policy” the Liberal Democrats were much closer to Labour, and that “if the arithmetic is there” his party should look to form a coalition with Labour, provided “we have the numbers and policy overlap”.
He also said there was “no chance” of an electoral pact with the Conservatives and described the recent Chris Huhne/Baroness Warsi double act (in which the Conservative party chair and the Lib Dem climate secretary launched a joint attack on Labour over public finances) as a “big mistake”, adding “anything with Warsi is a mistake”.
On the alternative vote referendum, he praised Ed Miliband for saying he would vote yes and said Labour “has nothing to fear” from AV. He said: “It should be easy to avoid a Conservative-led government as there will be more progressive votes” – as there were at the last election and at every general election since 1945, a point illustrated by Left Foot Forward last year. Dr Harris was also encouraged by the new Labour leader’s remarks on no id cards and the “rapprochement on civil liberties“.
He finished with a warning to Labour to cease the shrill attacks and shouts of “betrayal” against the Lib Dems – which were noticably absent in Mr Miliband’s leader’s speech on Tuesday – explaining how it would be counter-productive to describe the coalition as a “Tory government”, as “this would only seek to enhance the conservatives’ progressive credentials and allow them to take credit for all our policy gains, like on environmental policy, the Human Rights Act, on capital gains tax and tax cuts for the least well off in work”.
24 Responses to “Evan Harris: Progressive coalition in 2015 “if the arithmetic is there””
John Ruddy
Its all very well for him to say these things, but the actions and beliefs of some MPs (and ministers) in the Liberal Democrats make this difficult to take seriously. A number of Liberal Democrat activists have said that they will never countenance a coalition with Labour, under any circumstances – quite contrary to the position taken before the election – like so many things the Liberal Democrats said.
Ash
Good grief – not that hard-won concession “tax cuts for the least well off in work” again. (“Oh no, Nick! Please don’t make us cut income tax – we ‘ll have to put up VAT if we do that!”)
As for:
“how it would be counter-productive to describe the coalition as a “Tory government”, as “this would only seek to enhance the conservatives’ progressive credentials and allow them to take credit for all our policy gains, like on environmental policy, the Human Rights Act, on capital gains tax and tax cuts for the least well off in work”
– is this really how it works – the Tories get no credit for pursuing progressive policies, and the Lib Dems get no blame for pursuing regressive ones? Isn’t this supposed to be a Coalition Government, collectively responsible for its actions?
mike
Big fan of Evan
But lets look at the NHS White Paper
of course we should attack it
its a disgrace and Lib Dems know it
Lansley has walked all over them no wounder Redwood praises Lansley not Gove
Lib Dems need to get a grip of the NHS White Paper
You can play your part Evan
Mr. Sensible
Before entertaining this idea I think the Lib Dems need to look at themselves in the mirror.
And Ash you’re right; the comment about being progressive does not add up.
It’s nice to see 1 Lib Dem, 1 of a few, who hasn’t sold out on his principles. But he’s going to have to convince a few of his coleagues first, I think.
Mr. Sensible
Mike, talking of the NHS reforms, am I right in saying what they’re proposing wasn’t even in the Coalition agreement?