According to the 24 hour news channels some of the papers will report tomorrow that Shirley Williams is to join Gordon Brown’s government – not in ministerial office but in a position that will place her “close” to Gordon Brown. No more detail yet, but we’ll not have long to wait to find out for certain.
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Does that mean she’s re-joining the Labour Party then? I ask this because of Ed Davey’s statement the other week that
“there is no prospect of any Liberal Democrat joining the Brown Government”
Someone is fibbing – I dearly hope it’s the papers!
We need to be keeping our distance from Brown. He’s not going to be flavour of the month for ever you know… and the voters may already be suspicious that we would opt prop up a Brown government given half a chance.
We need to be clearly demonstrating our independence at a time like this…
If she takes any job, ministerial or otherwise she should be sacked. Capmbell will look weak otherwise. Ditto Cameron if any Tories jump onto the Brown bandwagon.
I agree 100% with H-Lad. Anyone disobeying the Party leafer like this must be thrown out of the party.
Yes – if this is really true (let’s not make assumptions, though) then she should go.
Frankly, following on from Baroness Williams’s disgraceful remarks about Salman Rushdie on last week’s Question Time, they’re welcome to her.
After everything that’s been said over the last week, there are no two ways about this.
Lib Dems do not want to be associated with Gordon Brown’s government.
So you can be involved in this new government – that includes being some sort of adviser – or you can be a member of the Liberal Democrats, but not both.
Campbell and Williams really need to get this one right.
Yes I agree with comments above. The same should apply to Alex Carlisle; he should have resigned from the party when he took the “Independent Advisor” post.
Beth
I’m afraid I don’t agree.
Advisory jobs TO Government from leqading figures in other parties or them chairing commissions is not a constitutional innovation of Brown’s. Ashdown – Parades Commission
Patten – Ulster Police
Carlise – terrorism watchdog
Jenkins – PR Commission
This is quite normal.
Executive responsibility is not. No jobs in Cabinet or ‘joining the Government’.
Advisory role on muclear proliferation, it seems, according to the Beeb.
Nuclear, even. Not advising on phlegm.
We have had nothing but deceit and manipulation from labour in the past, and clearly Brown is being manipulative, trying to get LD “Names” associated with his government.
As to Shirley advising on reduction of nuclear proliferation to Labour with their comittment to Trident and Nuclear Power, it is a bit like persuading a wolf to be a vegetarian.