The Guardian are reporting today that Nick Clegg is aiming to distance the Liberal Democrats from the Tories by making it clear where the two parties have had to shift from their initial position on various issues. Clegg has always been keen to prove that coalition government can work. In common with many Lib Dems I accept that but think that he's gone about that the wrong way. He has tried to give the impression that there are no differences between the parties which has led to him being portrayed as Cameron's mini-me.

 

I had initially thought that this shift in attitude wouldn't happen until after the AV referendum but it looks like it may happen sooner. I certainly hope so. Clegg and the other Lib Dem ministers should be showing how it is possible for two parties to work together without losing their separate identities. No Cabinet in history has ever been united on absolutely everything - after all, no group of two dozen people are likely to agree on every single issue. Therefore, it shouldn't be seen as some great revelation that there are differences of opinion in a Cabinet with ministers from two different parties.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/ja...tion-government

Frankly, I genuinely think he's going insane. Earlier in the week, he said in an interview that students will be "pleasantly surprised" when they tuition fees are trebled. And him saying the Tory-led government are standing up for "Alarm Clock Britain" is hilarious... does he really think people aren't going to notice they've got less money at the end of every month?

 

I think the Lib Dems actually hold more cards than they realise, and they actually do have the power to force the Tories to ditch some of their more right-wing policies, if they choose to use that power. People keep saying that the Lib Dems wouldn't dare bring the Coalition down because they don't want another election ... but the Coalition ending doesn't necessarily have to mean an immediate election - the Lib Dems could refuse to vote through a motion of no-confidence, and let the Tories carry on as a minority government for a while. If they'd done that last year, Cameron might've called a snap election last year, which could've meant the Tories got a majority - but there's no way he'd dare call an election now public opinion has turned against the cuts. That means the Lib Dems would have time and space to rehabilitate themselves, by ditching Clegg, getting an effective veto over any Tory policy, and maybe even overturning the tuition fees rise ... but of course, I don't expect them to actually have the guts to try to use this power that they have.