clegg’s faustian pact
There’s a scene in ‘Spinal Tap’ where bassist Derek Smalls explains to director Marty DiBergi that he sees himself as being the ‘luke warm water’ between the fire of lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel and vocalist David St. Hubbins’ ice and that’s exactly where the Liberals have always been. Yes, I accept that historically it was not always the case and once upon a time Liberalism represented the deeply radical alternative to the ‘wigs’ but certainly in my memory that’s their pigeon hole. But, oh what a difference an election can make.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg recently sought to allay the fears of an understandably anxious party, urging them to ‘hold our nerve and we will change Britain for good’, believing they will be rewarded at the next election. Exactly who, one has to ask, does he think is going to reward them?
The deal with David Cameron may have brought Clegg (and exactly a third of his 57 MPs as they sit at the top table) short term glory but is undoubtedly a thinly veiled suicide note, designed to consign them to the few and distant bank benches they occupied for many years. I agree that in reality he had absolutely no choice but to accept the bitter pill, as they would never have been taken seriously ever again, but where does this lead the grassroots support? The vote against the coalition’s free-school/academies, opposition to the Trident replacement and potential privatisation of the Post Office all indicate what’s going to happen – the left of the party will move to Ed Millband’s labour and the right will stay with the Tories, only with a clear conscience. Of course he has won the ever so important action on electoral reform but who outside of the Liberal party really cares about that? No change there then. And there will be no change there then.
Rest assured it’s not all bad news though, Clegg has bought himself honorary life membership of the Tory party, a safe seat ad infinitum and a comfy place on the Notting Hill sofa. For a man who enjoyed the school day privilege of ‘fagging’ (Louis Theroux allegedly) it’s nice to see that what goes around, comes around.
