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Oakeshott: Lib Dems must drop Nick Clegg to save seats Oakeshott: Lib Dems must drop Nick Clegg to save seats
(6 days later)
Liberal Democrats need to recognise that they are likely to save many seats at the next election if Nick Clegg stands aside as leader, Lord Oakeshott, the senior Liberal Democrat peer, has said.Liberal Democrats need to recognise that they are likely to save many seats at the next election if Nick Clegg stands aside as leader, Lord Oakeshott, the senior Liberal Democrat peer, has said.
Oakeshott claims Clegg's poll ratings are worse than those of former Labour leader Michael Foot, with no sign of improvement unless there is "a major and clear change in the party's direction", including a detachment from the Conservatives.Oakeshott claims Clegg's poll ratings are worse than those of former Labour leader Michael Foot, with no sign of improvement unless there is "a major and clear change in the party's direction", including a detachment from the Conservatives.
The call for change came as a poll by Populus for Greenpeace showed the Liberal Democrats' green credentials were being damaged. In particular, the survey found, the decision to endorse shale gas exploration, including fracking, has damaged the party's green credentials amongst those that voted Lib Dem in 2010 but have become disillusioned.The call for change came as a poll by Populus for Greenpeace showed the Liberal Democrats' green credentials were being damaged. In particular, the survey found, the decision to endorse shale gas exploration, including fracking, has damaged the party's green credentials amongst those that voted Lib Dem in 2010 but have become disillusioned.
Oakeshott, a long-term critic of Clegg, stopped short of explicitly calling for him to quit in his interview in House magazine, but makes it clear he thinks the party is heading for big losses unless he does so.Oakeshott, a long-term critic of Clegg, stopped short of explicitly calling for him to quit in his interview in House magazine, but makes it clear he thinks the party is heading for big losses unless he does so.
Although he is seen to be close to Vince Cable, the business secretary, Cable stressed that the remarks were "seriously unhelpful", adding: "Oakeshott does not speak for me."Although he is seen to be close to Vince Cable, the business secretary, Cable stressed that the remarks were "seriously unhelpful", adding: "Oakeshott does not speak for me."
But Oakeshott said: "Let's be objective: we have to accept that Nick's ratings are very poor and have been for a long time. You've got to be frank that his ratings are down at levels which, if you go back, were only seen by Mrs Thatcher shortly before she left and Michael Foot. It's nothing personal: you've got to look at the facts."But Oakeshott said: "Let's be objective: we have to accept that Nick's ratings are very poor and have been for a long time. You've got to be frank that his ratings are down at levels which, if you go back, were only seen by Mrs Thatcher shortly before she left and Michael Foot. It's nothing personal: you've got to look at the facts."
He continued: "There's quite a lot of complacency going on and self-delusion going on. We are likely to lose seats. If we are on 15% we would hold 30 seats, if we are on 17% we would hold 40 seats – and if we are on 13% we would hold 20 seats … It's very important to maximise our national share of the vote to give our MPs the best chance."He continued: "There's quite a lot of complacency going on and self-delusion going on. We are likely to lose seats. If we are on 15% we would hold 30 seats, if we are on 17% we would hold 40 seats – and if we are on 13% we would hold 20 seats … It's very important to maximise our national share of the vote to give our MPs the best chance."
He also called for the party to be disengaged from the Tories at least six months before the 2015 election.He also called for the party to be disengaged from the Tories at least six months before the 2015 election.
Pointing to polls last summer showing the party would do about 3%-4% better under another leader, he said: "These are things people have to think about, given how sensitive the number of our seats will be. It's for the party to decide.Pointing to polls last summer showing the party would do about 3%-4% better under another leader, he said: "These are things people have to think about, given how sensitive the number of our seats will be. It's for the party to decide.
"Since Ukip came along, we do seem to be pretty stuck around 10% in the opinion polls – it's a pretty narrow band between 8% and 10%. We've been like this for a long time, there's no sign of improvement."Since Ukip came along, we do seem to be pretty stuck around 10% in the opinion polls – it's a pretty narrow band between 8% and 10%. We've been like this for a long time, there's no sign of improvement.
"You do have to say: 'well, where are our prospects at the next election if we don't have a major and clear change and detachment from the Conservatives?'. And we've got to think about the best way to get that message over.""You do have to say: 'well, where are our prospects at the next election if we don't have a major and clear change and detachment from the Conservatives?'. And we've got to think about the best way to get that message over."
Clegg is facing a series of tests to his authority at the party's conference, which starts on Saturday, including challenges over the environment, defence, education, tax and the economy.Clegg is facing a series of tests to his authority at the party's conference, which starts on Saturday, including challenges over the environment, defence, education, tax and the economy.
But it has been widely accepted in the party that his leadership is secure in the wake of the Eastleigh byelection victory. Many sitting Lib Dem MPs believe they can hold their own seats, even if the party is struggling in the national polls.But it has been widely accepted in the party that his leadership is secure in the wake of the Eastleigh byelection victory. Many sitting Lib Dem MPs believe they can hold their own seats, even if the party is struggling in the national polls.
Clegg himself said on Thursday on LBC that he hoped the party would come together at conference, adding: "I'm proud of the fact that we've seen the economy, and helped to pilot the economy, through its darkest hour. A dawn appears to be breaking.Clegg himself said on Thursday on LBC that he hoped the party would come together at conference, adding: "I'm proud of the fact that we've seen the economy, and helped to pilot the economy, through its darkest hour. A dawn appears to be breaking.
"The economy would not be recovering now if it was not for Liberal Democrats"."The economy would not be recovering now if it was not for Liberal Democrats".
But Oakeshott suggests the party needs to recognise the 2014 European and local elections represent a last chance for the party to save itself. He said: "This will be much the biggest test we've had on a nationwide basis of our support and our appeal since the general election, so that's why it will be crunch time. There will be no excuse when everyone has been voting, particularly in important areas like London. I think that's when everyone will focus on things and I hope we will have a good hard look at our prospects for the election. There will still be time, but next May/June will be the last chance."But Oakeshott suggests the party needs to recognise the 2014 European and local elections represent a last chance for the party to save itself. He said: "This will be much the biggest test we've had on a nationwide basis of our support and our appeal since the general election, so that's why it will be crunch time. There will be no excuse when everyone has been voting, particularly in important areas like London. I think that's when everyone will focus on things and I hope we will have a good hard look at our prospects for the election. There will still be time, but next May/June will be the last chance."
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