Tag Archives: jane merrick

On Farron’s lurch to the left…

If you read some commentators, you’d think that in less than a week of leadership, Tim Farron had virtually turned us all into revolutionary socialists.

Matt Dahan wrote a story for the Independent which suggested that Nick Clegg would be “shaking his head” in “uncomfortable dismay” at Tim Farron’s bid to “form a Lib/Lab pact” to oppose welfare cuts.

The former deputy prime minister has been left sitting on the backbenches in the House of Commons, where he is forced to choose between toeing the party line or causing what would be a major rebellion in a party of just eight MPs.

It seems Mr Farron is leading the Lib Dems further to the left than Labour, even sending a letter to interim Labour leader Harriet Harman telling her to form a Lib-Lab alliance to fight the Government’s spending cuts.

Except Tim’s stance on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill is entirely consistent with the stance Nick Clegg took in Government. He stopped all this nonsense about taking Housing Benefit off young people and limiting tax credits to two children and further reducing the benefits cap. If Tim had supported them, it would have been a massive story.

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , , , , and | 66 Comments

Jane Merrick: “How we can all stop worrying and learn to love the Lib Dems..”

We haven’t seen many nice things written about Liberal Democrats in the last couple of weeks. However, in today’s Independent, Jane Merrick outlines reasons that we can be cheerful.

First she describes what a Liberal Democrat MP overheard on a train from two people talking about the party:

The MP (who was relieved to be unrecognised by his fellow commuters) listened as these two seasoned observers took apart the Lib Dems. One of the men said: “They’re always in trouble, aren’t they?” “Yeah, there was that bloke with the dog,” the other chipped in. “Who was that one who, you know

…

Posted in News | Also tagged , and | 46 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Rif Winfield
    Well said, Simon. I too remember you from 50 years ago, and discussions and campaigning we shared at that time, including not only the Party but including NLYL,...
  • Colin Brown
    Don't forget knowledge and appreciation of classical music and instrumental tuition as well!...
  • Jim Webber
    Well done Simon. I only have 5 years as an active activist and a few more years of membership, but I must have been "turned on" to the Liberal message at about ...
  • Neil Fawcett
    I agree with your objectives. But the triple lock does not help pensioners on the lowest incomes. It helps all the others. Far better to increase the s...
  • expats
    I'm surprised at the support for an article which seems to praise companies that seek to turn our children into addicts.. Does the author really believe that fl...