Thursday 30 July 2009

The Economist on Nick Clegg

From the new Economist:Mr Clegg influences politics in two ways that depend little on his party’s electoral showing, however. If the next election yields a hung parliament, the Lib Dems might enter administration in alliance with either of the big parties. Even if they lose MPs (and a lot of of their southern ones are susceptible to the Tories), they need only hang on to third place for Mr Clegg to remain kingmaker-in-waiting.This consideration no doubt plays a part in the government’s hints that it is pondering a referendum on a “fairer” voting system. The Lib Dems crave full-blown proportional representation but might decide the best chance of any reform lies with Labour.Mr Clegg can also shift the supporting debate in his direction. His campaign on behalf of veteran Gurkhas, the Nepalese soldiers who serve Britain, forced a administration u-turn in April. The decision of some Lib Dems to monitor police conduct during the G20 protests was seen as pretentious by many, but it was vindicated by events. Mr Clegg was also the first party head to call for the acceptance of Michael Martin, the previous speaker of the House of Commons, who duly stood down in June.His outrider status might prove as powerful on matters of tax and spend. He has named administration schemes he wants scrapped (baby bonds) or shrunk (the nuclear deterrent). The fiscal disaster might yet force the two big parties to be as specific.
Watch live TV on your laptop or desktop PC within seconds!

No comments:

Post a Comment