This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/08/sarah-teather-resignation-mixed-reaction
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sarah Teather resignation prompts both Lib Dem cynicism and fear | Sarah Teather resignation prompts both Lib Dem cynicism and fear |
| (8 days later) | |
| Sarah Teather's decision not to stand again as Liberal Democrat MP for Brent due to disagreements with Nick Clegg over immigration and welfare has been greeted with cynicism by some, but with concern by others that her departure reflects a belief that the party is losing its liberal moorings in pursuit of a second term in government. | Sarah Teather's decision not to stand again as Liberal Democrat MP for Brent due to disagreements with Nick Clegg over immigration and welfare has been greeted with cynicism by some, but with concern by others that her departure reflects a belief that the party is losing its liberal moorings in pursuit of a second term in government. |
| The cynics claim Teather, who announced her decision in the Observer, has just seen the writing on the wall, jumped rather than face ejection by her inner-city electorate in 2015. Alastair Campbell, the former press secretary to Tony Blair, was typically acerbic. He tweeted: "#Sarah Teather - a looming lost seat dressed up as look-at-me 'principles.' Her voting record speaks louder than today's self-pitying whinge". | The cynics claim Teather, who announced her decision in the Observer, has just seen the writing on the wall, jumped rather than face ejection by her inner-city electorate in 2015. Alastair Campbell, the former press secretary to Tony Blair, was typically acerbic. He tweeted: "#Sarah Teather - a looming lost seat dressed up as look-at-me 'principles.' Her voting record speaks louder than today's self-pitying whinge". |
| Others say she genuinely found the need to square her personal beliefs and the party's official position more difficult than many hardened politiicans. Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, made the point on Sunday that you need to be tough in politics. The implication was that kitchens induce heat, and she could not stand it. | Others say she genuinely found the need to square her personal beliefs and the party's official position more difficult than many hardened politiicans. Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader, made the point on Sunday that you need to be tough in politics. The implication was that kitchens induce heat, and she could not stand it. |
| Teather is a controversial figure in the party due to her decision on a free vote earlier this year not to back gay marriage. | Teather is a controversial figure in the party due to her decision on a free vote earlier this year not to back gay marriage. |
| Her decision to stand aside will resonate with party activists on the left who are preparing to defend a raft of long-standing policy positions facing a challenge at the party conference next week in Glasgow. | Her decision to stand aside will resonate with party activists on the left who are preparing to defend a raft of long-standing policy positions facing a challenge at the party conference next week in Glasgow. |
| Economy, tuition fees, nuclear power, an independent nuclear deterrent, a 50p top rate of tax, the bedroom tax, fracking and immigration are all up for grabs at a conference that could either end up as a slow-motion identity crisis, and a fiesta for split-hungry reporters, or a healing of some deep party wounds. | Economy, tuition fees, nuclear power, an independent nuclear deterrent, a 50p top rate of tax, the bedroom tax, fracking and immigration are all up for grabs at a conference that could either end up as a slow-motion identity crisis, and a fiesta for split-hungry reporters, or a healing of some deep party wounds. |
| Some on the left deny Teather simply walked before she was pushed, pointing out she had won in two difficult general elections, worked like a Trojan locally, and had helped prevent the party being wiped out at local elections. | Some on the left deny Teather simply walked before she was pushed, pointing out she had won in two difficult general elections, worked like a Trojan locally, and had helped prevent the party being wiped out at local elections. |
| Gareth Epps from the Social Liberal Forum, a left of centre group within the Lib Dems, sprung to her defence, saying: "There can be no dispute that the news is a serious blow to the party's leadership which has so few female role models, at a time when it has taken a confrontational stance towards activists, and on the eve of what will be a challenging conference." | Gareth Epps from the Social Liberal Forum, a left of centre group within the Lib Dems, sprung to her defence, saying: "There can be no dispute that the news is a serious blow to the party's leadership which has so few female role models, at a time when it has taken a confrontational stance towards activists, and on the eve of what will be a challenging conference." |
| He adds: "One of the sharpest dividing lines in the coalition is between those who understand and empathise with the pressures faced by those most disadvantaged, and those who do neither; and the depressing conclusion is that on the Liberal Democrat frontbench in particular there are too few of the former and too many of the latter. Sarah is not the only prominent Lib Dem not restanding in 2015 for that reason." | He adds: "One of the sharpest dividing lines in the coalition is between those who understand and empathise with the pressures faced by those most disadvantaged, and those who do neither; and the depressing conclusion is that on the Liberal Democrat frontbench in particular there are too few of the former and too many of the latter. Sarah is not the only prominent Lib Dem not restanding in 2015 for that reason." |
| Others on the left say the reason she feels isolated within the party is because she alienated many by voting against gay marriage due to her religous beliefs. She was for instance, on Sunday, the subject of sustained abuse on one prominent party website, Liberal Democrat Voice, for her illiberalism. | Others on the left say the reason she feels isolated within the party is because she alienated many by voting against gay marriage due to her religous beliefs. She was for instance, on Sunday, the subject of sustained abuse on one prominent party website, Liberal Democrat Voice, for her illiberalism. |
| Others claim she only found her conscience after she was sacked as schools minister last year. "She was a careerist without a career," said one. | Others claim she only found her conscience after she was sacked as schools minister last year. "She was a careerist without a career," said one. |
| It is a charge Teather strongly denies, claiming she generated opposition to plans for a cap on welfare spending from within government. | It is a charge Teather strongly denies, claiming she generated opposition to plans for a cap on welfare spending from within government. |
| In a statement to her local party setting out why she would not stand again, Teather said: "I have disagreed with both government and official party lines on a whole range of welfare and immigration policies, and those differences have been getting larger rather than smaller. Disagreements with the party on other areas of policy I have always felt could be managed, but these things are just core to my own sense of calling to politics. | In a statement to her local party setting out why she would not stand again, Teather said: "I have disagreed with both government and official party lines on a whole range of welfare and immigration policies, and those differences have been getting larger rather than smaller. Disagreements with the party on other areas of policy I have always felt could be managed, but these things are just core to my own sense of calling to politics. |
| "I have tried hard to balance my own desire to truthfully fight for what I believe on these issues with the very real loyalty and friendship I feel to party colleagues, but that has created intense pressure, and at times left me very tired. I don't think it is sustainable for me personally to continue to try and do that in the long term." She has said she is not clear what her next step will be. | "I have tried hard to balance my own desire to truthfully fight for what I believe on these issues with the very real loyalty and friendship I feel to party colleagues, but that has created intense pressure, and at times left me very tired. I don't think it is sustainable for me personally to continue to try and do that in the long term." She has said she is not clear what her next step will be. |
| Teather, a former charity worker, shot to prominence a decade ago, when at 29 she became the youngest MP. | Teather, a former charity worker, shot to prominence a decade ago, when at 29 she became the youngest MP. |
| But whatever the controversies surrounding her personal politics, her resignation, Nick Clegg will not welcome her resignation ahead of the party conference in Glasgow. | But whatever the controversies surrounding her personal politics, her resignation, Nick Clegg will not welcome her resignation ahead of the party conference in Glasgow. |
| By chance or circumstance, the party has loaded a great deal of internal controversy onto the party agenda. The left has shown in recent years that they can win conference votes if they organise, such as on secret courts, the NHS reforms or whether the economy should even be debated. | By chance or circumstance, the party has loaded a great deal of internal controversy onto the party agenda. The left has shown in recent years that they can win conference votes if they organise, such as on secret courts, the NHS reforms or whether the economy should even be debated. |
| However, it appears unfeasible so close to an election that conference would be in the mood to inflict serial defeats on Clegg, even if they were capable of doing so. | However, it appears unfeasible so close to an election that conference would be in the mood to inflict serial defeats on Clegg, even if they were capable of doing so. |
| On the key issue of the economy, the Social Liberal Forum has tabled one motion urging the Treasury in the short term to lift the straightjacket on councils borrowing more to build social housing, and a second that does not endorse the coalition's current deficit-reduction plan, and calls for more flexibility in how the mandate is implemented. | On the key issue of the economy, the Social Liberal Forum has tabled one motion urging the Treasury in the short term to lift the straightjacket on councils borrowing more to build social housing, and a second that does not endorse the coalition's current deficit-reduction plan, and calls for more flexibility in how the mandate is implemented. |
| It is possible that Clegg, who is due to sum up the debate, will accept amendments. He is due to hold a press conference on Monday likely to focus on Syria and his party, but he will also be pressed to say if he will accept the amendments. The attitude of the business secretary, Vince Cable, will be critical to Clegg's thinking. | It is possible that Clegg, who is due to sum up the debate, will accept amendments. He is due to hold a press conference on Monday likely to focus on Syria and his party, but he will also be pressed to say if he will accept the amendments. The attitude of the business secretary, Vince Cable, will be critical to Clegg's thinking. |
| • This article was amended on 9 September to correct the spelling of Alastair Campbell's first name. | • This article was amended on 9 September to correct the spelling of Alastair Campbell's first name. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |