Lib Dems ‘will disappear into the annals of history’
By Ian Dunt
The Liberal Democrats will “disappear into the annals of history” unless they pull out of the coalition, their leader in Liverpool has warned.
In a private letter to Nick Clegg seen by the Liverpool Echo, Warren Bradley told the deputy prime minister he was tired of “defending the indefensible”.
Mr Bradley, who was council leader until last year’s election, warned that next month’s local elections could signal the final moment of crisis for the Liberal Democrats, as they suffer a public backlash against their decision to enter coalition with the Conservatives.
“Unfortunately the boil is about to come to a head and burst (probably on election night) when we lose some very well respected and experienced colleagues from Liverpool city council,” he wrote.
Liberal Democrats needed to “reconsider what and who we are before we disappear into the annals of history as a political party who promised so much hope, yet failed because they wanted control and power”.
He continued: “I hope you take this in the spirit it is meant. Liberal principles have to shine through, we have to be independent and we have to sever ties from the coalition; if we fail to do this, we have only our parliamentarians to blame.”
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson insisted Mr Bradley’s views were not those of most party members.
“Moving from a party of protest to a party of power has brought with it some very difficult decisions but we cannot hide from the fact the country is borrowing an extra £400 million every single day – the cost of a new primary school every 20 minutes,” the spokesperson said.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, business secretary Vince Cable tried to settle the party’s nerves ahead of what are expected to be appalling election defeats.
“We’ve got to show stamina, this is a marathon not a sprint and I would recommend to Warren Bradley, who is an admirable Liberal Democrat, that he concentrates on the excellent record of the Liberal Democrats of restoring Liverpool after the terrible mess it was in,” he said.
Analysts are expecting the Liberal Democrats to suffer terrible defeats across the country in the local elections, but Mr Clegg is likely to be placing his hopes on the referendum on AV, which takes place at the same time.
If the public vote yes to electoral reform, one of his big gambles will have paid off and he can expect some political dividend by the time of the next general election.
But campaigners in Mr Clegg’s own constituency of Sheffield appeared to have buckled to the popular tide and left Mr Clegg off their literature.
“This is just one leaflet from a huge number put out by Liberal Democrats across Sheffield,” local party representatives said.
Mr Clegg told Sky News: “That is seriously scraping the barrel. We put out hundreds and thousands of leaflets, and to be honest for people to read into the fact that one leaflet doesn’t have my mug-shot on the front, I really think is pushing it a bit.”
Local elections and the AV referendum take place on May 5th.
