Does anyone out there still think the Lib Dems have an identity?

Even the FT is calling for the party to reassert itself.

By James Macintyre Published 25 August 2010 12:45

As the Liberal Democrats stay in denial mode about the "regressive" nature of the government's fiscal agenda, as reiterated by the IFS report today on the "emergency" Budget, criticisms of that party have come from an unpredictable new quarter: the Financial Times.

The respected, basically non-ideological and pragmatic Pink Paper -- which, if anything, has tilted slightly rightwards in recent months -- yesterday ran a fascinating comment piece by Ian Birrell, the former deputy editor of the Independent, arguing that the Lib Dems were not making themselves heard in Whitehall meetings.

The sentiment was intriguing because Birrell was also a highly-thought-of adviser and speechwriter to David Cameron during the election campaign, and is believed to hold New Tory sympathies.

Today, the FT has devoted its main leading article to a critique of the Lib Dems along similar lines. Unfortunately both articles are behind a paywall, but the leader concludes by saying: "No wonder [Clegg's] foot soldiers wonder what the point of entering government was."

Ouch. No wonder, too, that Clegg is preparing the ground for huge defeats in the local elections next year.

Tags: Budget 2010

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9 comments

Wed, 2010-08-25 14:04 — Lou (not verified)

The simple answer is no, they don't have a party identity anymore. Their abandonment of everything in the pursuit of power will relegate them to the 'others' bracket rather than as a major player in politics. Clegg has undone in 16 weeks what many much better qualified leaders before him have been working for over the last 22 years in terms of building up an identity, values and policies that can be taken seriously in the political field.

Wed, 2010-08-25 14:31 — thinkov

I always thought thre FT came out in favour of labour

Wed, 2010-08-25 14:34 — David Wearing1

Their identity is very clear. They appeal to their voters and members with woolly talk of progressivism and fairness, while being led by a clique that is essentially business-friendly and right-wing on economics. In that sense, they are very much like both New Labour and Cameron's Tories.

Why David "Millionaire's Choice" Miliband thinks the country needs three parties of this sort is anyone's guess.

Wed, 2010-08-25 14:36 — David Wearing1

I'll amend that slightly. Cameron's Tories appeal to voters, not their members, with talk of progressivism and fairness

Wed, 2010-08-25 15:14 — swatantra nandanwar

Yes.

Wed, 2010-08-25 15:55 — Euan McArthur (not verified)

Does anyone out there still believe that the 'identities' of the main three parties amount to anything more than marketing ploys?

Wed, 2010-08-25 16:44 — Mango Bongo (not verified)

The merchants of doom decrying the decision to form the coalition are so yesterday, if not yestercentury.

After 30 years of centre right then centre left, I was wondering what's the difference? - At least the coalition publicly expresses a willingness to pursue common policy together from the outset. To develop a strategy for real debt reduction as part of a package of compromises for the greater good, not just in selfish political posturing to curry short term favour. Labour's arrogance to assume they are the only possible partner for the LibDems speaks volumes for their detachment from much of the electorate. I never had that preconception while voting LibDems at every opportunity. I have now joined the party officially after the coalition was announced. It was my personal signal of support for the brave decision, the right decision, and after all things considered, the only decision.

Both previous single party governments have had their dark days of in-fighting and rivalry. The pressure being applied by the media to exploit coalition disagreements or misunderstandingss will be immense. The appetite to have a banquet on the bonfire of this agreement will be unquenchable, but hopefully not irresistible.

Wed, 2010-08-25 16:47 — Nick (not verified)

'No' the Liberals have not got a single milli-ounce of identity left. And 'YES' Euan, I believe that Labour have a passionate belief over the upholding of social values over the wider spectrum which is very distinct from a marketing ploy solely engineered to get power for the good of those at the top of the social ladder.