As bizarre as it may sound, Iain Dale is reporting that Greg Dyke is being approached by the Tories to stand as a joint Liberal Democrat – Conservative candidate in the London Mayoral elections. It seems incredible that anyone would seriously expect such an arrangement to be met, and I can only treat the news with a large pinch of salt.
Clearly, many, many Lib Dems – me amongst them – would be appalled at the idea of sharing a ticket with the Tories. Dale implies that our party has yet to be approached over this madcap scheme. We can be certain Chris Rennard will laugh them out of Cowley Street. Have any of these rumoured Tory plotters actually met Lib Dems? The irony is that the Tory grassroots would doubtless be as disgusted at such collusion with us as we with them. At least our leadership actually understands its own party.
The irony is that Dyke would not be a bad candidate to put his name forward for the Lib Dem nomination. He could go through our democratic selection procedure and we’d see what he’s like as a campaigner. However, Dale implies that Dyke is involved in a scheme by Francis Maude and others to deliver such a joint candidature. He deserves the benefit of the doubt, before we condemn him on the assumption this is true. I’ve heard Dyke speak at a constituency dinner, and he’s been a good supporter of the party since joining us. For all we know, this could be a Tory scheme he’s being unfairly implicated in.
What is certain is that the idea of sharing a ticket with another party is unimaginable. It is possible that we would cooperate with all other parties outside of elections, on issues where we genuinely agree with them. But Lib Dems should cleary stand only as Lib Dems, on unadulterated liberal principles.
And there was me thinking our David Owen April Fools spoof was one of the silliest possible scenarios for the London Mayoral race…
Share:
10 Comments
I could not agree more. I too thought it was a windup. But it’s not.
To kill this story stone dead, I am fairly sure that joint candidature is not allowed.
Does this show truth is stranger than fiction? I share your horror.
Someone either has a very funny or very sick sense of humour. This whole thing sounds bonkers. Who’s going to take the idea seriously, what on earth will his policies be? Also wont there be a party uproar which would derail this…?
A phrase that may be familiar to some Tories: No, no, no.
The Tories are Amy Winehouse fans?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6569109.stm
Rumour no sooner floated than squashed
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20070418/tuk-greg-dyke-may-stand-for-london-mayor-45dbed5.html
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20070418/tuk-greg-dyke-i-m-not-running-for-mayor-45dbed5.html
All very bizarre. Is Cameron really that daft?
The nearest we have had to a “joint candidate” in recent times is Martin Bell in Tatton. But Bell stood and sat as an Independent, the Lib Dems and Labour both standing down in his favour.
And there was the so-called “National Government” of the 1930s, of course – pull a few of your key opponents on board to emasculate the opposition. Many Tories continued to style themselves “Conservative National Liberal” as late as the 1966 GE.
Guys,
The ‘Martin Bell’ scenario seems to be exactly what Dyke was proposing.
The tragegy of the situation is that:
1) The tories come out looking more forward looking and open-minded than us
2) By slapping him down so rudely we might have lost a damn good supporter in Greg Dyke
3) We still haven’t got a serious candidate for London
Finally, whether it’s a good or a bad idea, it shouldn’t be up to Rennard or anyone else in Cowley Street – it should be up to the MEMBERSHIP!