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| As Lib Dem leader Tim Farron will have the luxury of being an outsider. It’s different for Labour | As Lib Dem leader Tim Farron will have the luxury of being an outsider. It’s different for Labour |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tim Farron has taken over the leadership of the Liberal Democrats. Is it a poisoned chalice, leading a pathetic cohort of eight MPs and a party that lost two-thirds of its members and voters? Not at all, to hear Farron speak. He makes it sound like one of the most enjoyable jobs in politics – and he could be right. Labour, in the throes of a leadership contest with another excruciating 57 days to run, might look across with envy at his freedom. | |
| After all, the only way is up for Farron. Things couldn’t get much worse? Oh yes they could, he replies: “It’s not inevitable that we will survive.” His forebears Grimmond, Steel and Ashdown were all guaranteed a stately third place at Westminster: “We’re not.” | After all, the only way is up for Farron. Things couldn’t get much worse? Oh yes they could, he replies: “It’s not inevitable that we will survive.” His forebears Grimmond, Steel and Ashdown were all guaranteed a stately third place at Westminster: “We’re not.” |
| Outseated by the SNP, outvoted by Ukip, lucky to get one question every three weeks at PMQs, instead be the outsiders – the Asterix party. Uncontaminated by a coalition he didn’t join (he voted against the bedroom tax, the Lansley NHS act and tuition fees), he is now bouncing with liberation to do and say anything at all. | Outseated by the SNP, outvoted by Ukip, lucky to get one question every three weeks at PMQs, instead be the outsiders – the Asterix party. Uncontaminated by a coalition he didn’t join (he voted against the bedroom tax, the Lansley NHS act and tuition fees), he is now bouncing with liberation to do and say anything at all. |
| Forget being a responsible member of a government: insurgency is all there is. Don’t be beige; be noticed. Occupy the liberal positions all the others regard as toxic. Defend the drowning Mediterranean migrants. Be pro-immigration, pro-human rights, anti-excessive imprisonment, pro-liberalising drug laws. Call for compassion for Greece and at home for capital borrowing to build 3m eco-homes. And do plenty more things to infuriate the Daily Mail and delight Guardian readers. | Forget being a responsible member of a government: insurgency is all there is. Don’t be beige; be noticed. Occupy the liberal positions all the others regard as toxic. Defend the drowning Mediterranean migrants. Be pro-immigration, pro-human rights, anti-excessive imprisonment, pro-liberalising drug laws. Call for compassion for Greece and at home for capital borrowing to build 3m eco-homes. And do plenty more things to infuriate the Daily Mail and delight Guardian readers. |
| He says he wants to be utterly loathed by 75% of the voters so long as he can summon passionate support from the minority 25%. He’s not after a shot at government, but wants to rebuild his party of protest and opposition. | He says he wants to be utterly loathed by 75% of the voters so long as he can summon passionate support from the minority 25%. He’s not after a shot at government, but wants to rebuild his party of protest and opposition. |
| Some day he might again be in coalition, (with Labour, SNP and Greens, is the implication) but for now out-opposing the Tories and putting Labour’s vacillations to shame is his game. Besides, Labour needs the Lib Dems to win back those south-western and southern seats that were far beyond Labour’s reach even in Blair’s heyday. | Some day he might again be in coalition, (with Labour, SNP and Greens, is the implication) but for now out-opposing the Tories and putting Labour’s vacillations to shame is his game. Besides, Labour needs the Lib Dems to win back those south-western and southern seats that were far beyond Labour’s reach even in Blair’s heyday. |
| What joy! What fun! Free to stand for everything you really, really believe, and to hell with compromising with the voters. How many Labour party members, about to vote for their leader, yearn for such freedom? How many may opt for it, and the devil take the consequences? | What joy! What fun! Free to stand for everything you really, really believe, and to hell with compromising with the voters. How many Labour party members, about to vote for their leader, yearn for such freedom? How many may opt for it, and the devil take the consequences? |
| A poll – of unknown origin or purpose – leaked to the New Statesman, suggests Jeremy Corbyn might have a 15-point lead in first preferences. If there is any truth in a surge for him – and it’s certainly audible in the applause he gets at every hustings – then Labour is opting for the Farron position. Let’s have some insurgent fun following our own self-indulgent fancies, and never mind the need to get back into power. | A poll – of unknown origin or purpose – leaked to the New Statesman, suggests Jeremy Corbyn might have a 15-point lead in first preferences. If there is any truth in a surge for him – and it’s certainly audible in the applause he gets at every hustings – then Labour is opting for the Farron position. Let’s have some insurgent fun following our own self-indulgent fancies, and never mind the need to get back into power. |
| People can and do persuade themselves that conviction alone will win the day, that sincerity, honesty and passion will overcome all. Alas, the polling evidence – the real evidence, in ballot boxes – suggest otherwise. Viz Michael Foot. | People can and do persuade themselves that conviction alone will win the day, that sincerity, honesty and passion will overcome all. Alas, the polling evidence – the real evidence, in ballot boxes – suggest otherwise. Viz Michael Foot. |
| Politics is a fiendishly difficult art of shifting ingredients, blending leadership and a sense of direction with a canny ear for how far the voters will go. | Politics is a fiendishly difficult art of shifting ingredients, blending leadership and a sense of direction with a canny ear for how far the voters will go. |
| Talk of the “centre ground”, as Liz Kendall does, is badly off beam – and Farron is right about the risk of beige. A measure of charisma is essential – but so is pragmatism. How well those are intermingled is the key to triumph. | Talk of the “centre ground”, as Liz Kendall does, is badly off beam – and Farron is right about the risk of beige. A measure of charisma is essential – but so is pragmatism. How well those are intermingled is the key to triumph. |
| Labour are not free to be Farronistas. Labour has a deadly serious duty to win back power, not for the sake of its MPs and door-knocking members but for all those who suffer every time there is a Tory government – never more than right now. All Tory governments reward the rich at the expense of the bottom half, and all Labour party members know that’s what keeps them slogging on through another damned five years. | Labour are not free to be Farronistas. Labour has a deadly serious duty to win back power, not for the sake of its MPs and door-knocking members but for all those who suffer every time there is a Tory government – never more than right now. All Tory governments reward the rich at the expense of the bottom half, and all Labour party members know that’s what keeps them slogging on through another damned five years. |
| Do we know how far to compromise with prevailing popular views – on welfare, migration, trade union rights, and a score more tricky issues? No. Finding the balance between our own strong beliefs and where the voters are is what the next leader has to do. | Do we know how far to compromise with prevailing popular views – on welfare, migration, trade union rights, and a score more tricky issues? No. Finding the balance between our own strong beliefs and where the voters are is what the next leader has to do. |
| Choosing Corbyn and the wilderness might be exciting – certainly for journalists and for mega-rich hedge-fund Tory donors. But not for all those about to have their tax credits and sickness pay sliced away. Not for the young, and not for the future of the NHS, social care, Sure Start and FE colleges for the half of students not destined for university. | Choosing Corbyn and the wilderness might be exciting – certainly for journalists and for mega-rich hedge-fund Tory donors. But not for all those about to have their tax credits and sickness pay sliced away. Not for the young, and not for the future of the NHS, social care, Sure Start and FE colleges for the half of students not destined for university. |
| Freedom to stand for everything you believe in is a fine thing – but not at the expense of ever holding power to implement anything. | Freedom to stand for everything you believe in is a fine thing – but not at the expense of ever holding power to implement anything. |