To mock the Daily Mail is, however satisfying and amusing, to largely miss the point: it is its own best self-parody. Today’s a case in point, as it dawns on the paper that a coalition government actually does mean the Lib Dems have some power. Devoid of irony, the Mail explodes with outrage:
Yes, that’s right: quite outrageously the leader of the party which won 23% of the national vote is set to have more power than an unelected peer. What is the country coming to?
If you can get past your FFS-sigh at the Mail’s headline, the story contains some interesting and (for Lib Dems) reassuring insights contained within the coalition agreement that demonstrates Nick Clegg’s DPM role is definitely not in name only, and that the Lib Dems have earned some key power-sharing rights:
- “chair an all-powerful Cabinet committee on domestic affairs, putting him in overall charge of formulating reforms of health, education and policing”;
- “all of George Osborne’s Budget decisions as Chancellor will ‘require consultation’ with his Lib Dem Treasury Chief Secretary David Laws”;
- “Mr Osborne [is barred] from consulting the Prime Minister over a Budget measure without also speaking to Mr Clegg”;
- “Mr Clegg now enjoys a formal entitlement to know about everything going on in Government and to be contacted in the event of disputes”;
- “No Lib Dem minister or whip can be removed by Mr Cameron without ‘full consultation with the Deputy Prime Minister'”;
- “the future make-up of the Government front bench must remain ‘approximately in proportion to the size of the two parliamentary-parties'” – and “Mr Cameron will select new ministers, but only after consulting Mr Clegg”; and
- “Mr Clegg has also been allowed to serve, or nominate another member of the Government to serve, on every Cabinet committee and sub-committee”.
As the Mail concludes with baffled indignation:
The deal makes Mr Clegg by far the most powerful deputy prime minister of modern times – eclipsing Labour’s John Prescott, and more influential even than former First Secretary Lord Mandelson.
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11 Comments
Yet, Mandleson had a heck of a lot of influence, and Prescott *was* an elected representative of an elected Party. Many Tories are spitting chips about the subduing of the 1922 Committee, and it won’t do to be quite so cavalier with criticism from right-wing press which, quite possibly, don’t have too high an opinion of Cameron just now.
I suppose the right to be “consulted”, before someone does something you don’t like, is something – but real power would consist in being able to stop them doing it!
I guess they’ve got `clegg on their faces`
perhaps Clegg’s ‘sweeping powers’ (really?) will keep him away from the scraps of the Oligarch’s table (re the Slow Dawn scandal into Mandelson, loss of money and hundreds of jobs!)
Interesting to read the comments. Many are favourable to the coalition, to the Lib Dems, to Nick Clegg and to the general idea of a co-operative style of government. The Mail will eventually catch up with its readers…
When I came across the headline, “The sex-mad pantomime villain with a finger on the nuclear button,” I was rather worried at first about some sort of Daily Mail smear. Happily otherwise!
U know I had my misgivings about this coaltion! First off I have 2 hand it to the tories especially Cameron who seems genuinely interested in making this work. Second off we have a chance 2 actually walk the walk rather than just always talking the talk!! And who can trust Labour Ed Milliband now says Heathrow runway3 and iraq war were wrong? what next?
“”The deal makes Mr Clegg by far the most powerful deputy prime minister of modern times – eclipsing Labour’s John Prescott, and more influential even than former First Secretary Lord Mandelson.””
Er . . it’s called a Coalition government and, in this case, involves two different political parties.
@Anthony Aloysius St Follow your line of thought through and it would need an outright dictatorship. Talk about authoritarian govt.. Meanwhile, the opportunity arises for Nick Clegg to discuss the matter with David Cameron and reach a consensus. The ‘power’ in any particular instant will be revealed by who ever prevails!
Miranda
I was simply pointing out that the right of Clegg to be “consulted” by Cameron before he sacks a Lib Dem minister – or Laws by Osborne before he puts something in the budget – doesn’t actually confer any power at all.
Your hysterical stuff about “dictatorship” and “authoritarian government” rather misses the point.
Pressed the link to go to the Daily Mail website article…scroll down, and read some of the comments of the readers! A pity someone cant put these people right. Or, is it a waste of time?
Dear Sirs,
Having been in a time warp for the last 70 years and just catching up with telegrams….. I gather that nice Mr Chamberlain has resigned and… I have been surprised to learn that Mr Churchill our new ‘Conservative’ PM is apparently going to consult with the leader of the Liberal Party (Mr Sinclair) the Secretary of State for Air, about the disposition of our airforces at this time of national crisis…
What is the world coming too?
Yours
Outraged of Tunbridge Wells