LIBERAL DEMOCRATS delegates yesterday openly warned the party’s leadership that they must not accept spending cuts that will hurt the poor in the negotiations under way with the Conservative chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne. The public is expecting the Liberal Democrats to “protect them from far-right Toryism”, they said.
The tough stance being adopted by the delegates is a warning to party leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg as Conservatives and Liberal Democrats get ready to finalise work on the comprehensive spending review, due to be published in mid-October. This will begin the work of cutting up to a quarter from the spending of some government departments.
London delegate Ed Randall said “ill-timed public spending cuts” would do unspeakable damage, as he complained about the rhetoric being used by senior Liberal Democrat ministers, including chief secretary of the treasury Danny Alexander. Colchester MP Bob Russell said: “There is no future for us to the left of Labour, but there is no future either for us to the right of the Conservatives.”
However, party deputy leader Simon Hughes, seen by many who are doubtful about coalition as the party’s conscience, said Lib Dem ministers have not lost their principles since they entered into alliance with the Conservatives after the May election. “No Liberal Democrat minister has become any less radical or any less committed to freedom and fairness since they joined the government.
“Like you they have spent years knocking on doors, handing out leaflets and campaigning for liberal democracy. I know from all my contacts with them that all our ministers are fighting every day to deliver liberal democracy in Britain. Of course I understand the concerns of some of you and some of our supporters. Coalition will not always be easy. You may not like everything that this government will do.
“But I have been on the opposition benches for 27 years watching things I didn’t like and it didn’t make it any easier for me, or my south London constituents, to suffer those things just because I knew I was not in any way responsible. When you move from the touchline to the pitch, there is a risk you may get some knocks and pick up a few bruises – but on the touchline you never get the chance to change the game. Now that we are in the game, one thing that we can say with absolute certainty is that from now we will not be ignored,” he said.
In a further sign of grassroots independence, the delegates voted to replace university tuition fees – which they have long opposed – with a graduates tax, which would see high earners pay more subsequently for their degree. This is opposed by the Tories and by many university heads, who want to increase tuition fees to a minimum of £7,000 (€8,245).
A major independent review, headed by former head of BP Lord John Browne is expected to recommend that tuition fees rise substantially from the existing £3,290, although influential Liberal Democrats, including business secretary Vince Cable have stuck to the party’s long-held position since they took up their places in government.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem delegates strongly supported demands that same-sex and mixed-sex couples should be allowed to decide if they wanted to be married, or have a civil partnership.
They were also in favour of giving them legal rights to be married in church, if they wished – something that will be fiercely opposed by churches, including Catholic Church leaders.
Liberal Democrat equality minister Lynne Featherstone said she will bring forward proposals in the matter soon.
