I’ll be posting in more depth soon about the events of the last few days and how we got here. A few quick points
1, I’m more than happy, in fact I want to, visit consituency parties and speak to members about why I voted in favour of going into coalition with the Tories. My email address is alison AT alisongoldsworthy.co.uk
2, The Labour party didn’t take these talks seriously. I’ll be posting a statement shortly to show just how much that was the case. But with former Ministers sounding off, a negotiating team that wouldn’t comprimise on even fairly basic steps (ID cards, pupil premium etc etc) it quickly became clear that this wasn’t an option. Don’t let the Labour party tell you otherwise.
3, The agreed policy document will be released later this morning. It has some big wins for the Lib dems, many already reported. Though this is a comprimise document and therefore not our whole manifesto. It involved give on both sides. There will be further more detailed documents in coming days, I anticipate these will go into more depth on Welsh issues. The one to be released later today focusses principally on issues of difference.
4, I took my decision with a view to the national interest. I believe every single person in the room last night did exactly the same thing. We all deserve a stable government. This achieved it.
No related posts.
Well I didn’t vote for LD but what I don’t understand is why some LD voters are complaining that “this isn’t what we voted for”.
My answer – it sure had to be as this is the only way LD are going to get any say in how teh country is run. I’m quietly confident for this next term of government that sense and reasonableness will prevail for teh first time since I was allowed to vote … a while back now
Not at all convinced by any of this – Clegg has always been to the right as has Laws – this is about power not principle – but that us politics.
We have a referndum – that at least is a start if we can get the £10k tax free allowance and funding for education I’ll swallow the bitter pill of working with the Tories
You did the right thing Alison – very proud of you and the party for taking such a grown up attitude to these talks and the decision.
You served the party and the country with the wisdom it deserves.
Lx