Liberal Democrats in Government (Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats)

Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats <info@cantlibdem.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats in Government

May 14, 2010 6:18 PM

Once Labour decided it was unable or unwilling to try to form a progressive coalition government, only three possible scenarios remained. All involved David Cameron as Prime Minister: a Liberal Democrat / Conservative coalition; a minority Conservative administration supported on a confidence and supply basis; or a minority Conservative administration rejected at the Queen's speech.

The second and third options would have resulted in an early general election, which the Conservatives would have been well placed to win - they have the momentum which has led to success in similar circumstances in the past (1950-1951 and 1974) and they have money. Under a confidence and supply arrangement, we would have been powerless to prevent many of the Tories' more unacceptable policies and we would have had no real right to insist on compromise. We would not even have the power to bring down the government - on some of the more likely issues, Labour and the Tories agree (tuition fees, Trident and immigration, for example).

Whilst I'm personally uneasy about a relationship with the Tories, the agreement between the two parties does allow us to implement a number of the policies on which we have campaigned.

- People earning the lowest incomes will be taken out of tax, but the inheritance tax threshold will not be raised. The link between pensions and earnings will be restored, with the pension being increased by higher of prices, average earnings or 2.5%.

- The Liberal Democrat pupil premium will be adopted to improve the life chances of those in our most disadvantaged communities.

- There will be investment in green jobs; investment in high-speed rail, rather than an expansion of the London airports

- Some major changes to our political system including reform of the House of Lords, fixed term parliaments and a referendum on voting reform for the House of Commons. There will be devolution of power to local councils and community groups. The ID card scheme will be abolished.

In Canterbury and Whitstable, where we have been campaigning (and will continue to do so) against the Conservatives, it is more than a little uncomfortable supporting a decision to work in partnership with them. It is certainly not what I had anticipated a few weeks ago. But we are where we are. David Cameron may not be able to maintain his own party and this agreement may not stick. That's not our problem.

It is also worth remembering just 21 years ago our party almost collapsed. We are now on the verge of a new and exciting passage in our party's history. The Liberal Democrats are, once again, a party of national government, with seats round the cabinet table. Members of our party have responsibility for the biggest challenges our country faces - restoring faith our democracy, supporting businesses out of recession and improving training opportunities for our young people, balancing the government budget and, most importantly of all, combating climate change.

It's time to be proud of what makes us Liberal Democrats. Our members and supporters are open-minded and committed to fairness. Above all, we want to change our political system and the way we do politics in this country. This coalition does offer the opportunity to at least move some way along that road.