LEAVE THEM ALONE!

Right, ever since the Lib Dems agreed to a coalition government, the national opinion of them has been absolutely scathing. I went to a Radio 5 Live session at the Lib Dem conference and to say the mood was hostile is understating the matter. Now I don’t see the problem with the yellows, and here is why:

Firstly, the decision for the coalition was the best possible outcome of a farcical election and was best for Britain. A minority government is about as appealing to investors as Ann Widdecombe in a thong and would mean that economic growth would be impossible, no matter the size or speed of public spending cuts. As for the ‘Rainbow Alliance’ concept, it sounds frankly ridiculous – it would mean essentially every party but the Conservatives in power, restricting the decision-making process and resulting in a similar investment situation as a minority. Also, apparently Gordon Brown rejected any possibility of working with the Lib Dems, so the left have only themselves to blame if they’re still clinging on to the possibility that that Alliance would’ve worked. Therefore, no matter how reluctant the Lib Dems may or may not have been to enter joint governance, it was the ONLY feasible option.

Secondly, now that they’re in power, with 57 seats to 306, (ignoring the obvious discrepancy from votes to seats thanks to our failure of a voting system) the Lib Dems are well and truly the minority half of government – the Watson to Cameron’s Holmes if you will. Because of this, it seems only fair that the majority of the Conservatives’ policies remain intact – compromise is everything. The progressive Liberals have already ensured that the 1 million lowest earners have been lifted out of tax thresholds, thereby making it only fair that Gove should have his free schools and Trident can be replaced. I am as sceptical about these policies as many on the left, but I understand that it is only democratic to let them occur – the Tories received by far the most votes after all. People say “well no-one voted for this - they have no mandate”; well actually they do. Obviously nobody crossed a box marked coalition when voting, but it’s pretty clear that the decisions made in the week following May 6^th were in our national interest.

I digress. Thirdly, the way in which the two parties have handled such a blow to their egos and such an alien situation as a UK coalition has been positively heart-warming. Clegg could be criticised for dropping his principles at the door of Number 10, but he knows that he can only speak out for his beliefs in moderation. He is in government, an institution that shares a collective responsibility to maintain unity and stability, no matter what; the Lib Dems have Simon Hughes to give their true opinions on coalition policy anyway. Both parties have acted in a surprisingly grown-up way and deserve a congratulatory pat on the back rather than the stab that Lib Dem voters have chosen to give.

Finally, the concept of the Big Society is fantastic. If it works (which it has to as after the cuts it’s local responsibility or nothing!) then our communities will thrive, our Dunkirk spirit will return and the general attitude of the UK will be one of enthusiasm – it is our chance to take our freedom and rejoice, not sniff at the lack of government support; we don’t need it!

So come the local elections don’t wipe out the Lib Dems out of spite for their decision – those on the left tend to forget pragmatism when it comes to such situations. Without them we will be left with just two parties, destroying any chance of a pluralist democracy once and for all. We need the Lib Dems – it is their presence and sense that provides a possible end to our adversarial out-of-touch system of politics. Think long term, centre-leftists, and vote with your heads – not your broken hearts.