Yesterday we reported the Telegraph’s list of numbers 26 to 50 in their annual list of ‘influential Lib Dems’, as devised by Iain Dale, Brian Brivati “with the help of a panel of senior Lib Dems”. Today we find out who they placed top of the pile…
The least surprising news is that Nick Clegg reclaims his place as the Number 1 most influential Lib Dem. Indeed it shows the limit of such lists that last year he was mischievously relegated to the runners-up spot, behind Vince Cable — of course no one could have predicted ‘Cleggmania’ at that stage, but, still, the Coalition negotiations highlighted why the party leader is always the most influential Lib Dem.
Initially I was dubious about the choice of Danny Alexander as the second most influential Lib Dem — but in reality it’s hard to think of anyone else who has both substantial cabinet responsibilities, and is so close to Nick Clegg. (He was, after Miriam, the first person Nick hugged following his leaders’ speech yesterday: so much so that Mr Cameron might be slightly envious of this new Bromance.)
The highest new entry is Michael Moore, at number 13 — “he’s a safe pair of hands in a job where the definition of success is being able to keep out of trouble”, a sort of Lib Dem Alistair Darling. Other new entries include deputy chief whip Alastair Carmichael (15), Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords, Lord Alderdice (21), and special advisor to Nick Clegg, Lena Pietsch (22).
You can read the list in full here. And you can compare it with the 2009 list here.
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2 Comments
As David Gardiner pointed out in theTelegraph;s comment section on this article, a good proportion of these people have no history within the Liberal Democrats, but are just Tory types that Mr Clegg has decided to surround himself with.
Simon Hughes deserves his big leap. He’s a fine man, a fine liberal and his speech at conference was thoroughly inspiring.