Feared storm never hit subdued conference

UK Political Editor

Thursday 27 September 2012

THE strong winds and horizontal rain buffeting Brighton this week provided an apt metaphor for not only the economic storm lashing Britain but also the battering Nick Clegg continues to get from inside and outside his party for forming a coalition with David Cameron's Conservatives.

Custom byline text:

MICHAEL SETTLE UK POLITICAL EDITOR

With all the pre-conference talk about replacing the Deputy Prime Minister as leader, there was no doubt relief to the party leadership that LibDem dissenters did not hijack conference and distract the media – that was left to the ongoing saga of Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell. ('I'm a pleb' badges sold like hot cakes in the conference stands).

Indeed, throughout the week there was a rather subdued air about the annual LibDem get-together. One seasoned loyalist noted: "The thing is, those who don't agree with Nick have just stayed away." Another added: "The party's anxious. No-one quite knows how we are going to emerge from all of this."While there were two defeats for the leadership on secret courts and planning rules, there was no sense of rebellion in the conference corridors. At the party's glee club, in fact, when someone tried to mock the leader, boos rang out. The biggest expression of relief emerging from party HQ's conference office came when delegates overwhelmingly backed the Coalition's Plan A approach to the economy. Indeed, Danny Alexander, the Deputy Chancellor, insisted the austerity programme was the "foundation of jobs and prosperity". George Osborne, his Tory boss at the Treasury, could not have put it better himself. Yet there was not even a murmur of dissent from the straight-backed audience. With the slogan "fairer taxes in tough times" plastered all over the place, it was Mr Clegg's desire for a wealth tax that dominated most of the conference chatter. In fact, the most important point made at conference was that the DPM would only agree to more benefit cuts if pips began to squeak among the wealthy. If not a mansion tax, then higher council bands and scrapping pension reliefs for the better-off and more tax on capital gains and, of course, cracking down on tax dodgers. There was even a preamble to the 2015 election – scrap the age-related benefits such as free bus passes for millionaires like Lord Sugar. Of course, the tycoon has a chauffeur.While LibDem frontbenchers could not resist having a pop at the odd Tory (Vince Cable referred to some Conservative rightwingers as "headbangers"), one interesting fringe had Labour's Jon Cruddas describing the LibDems as a "benign" influence on the Coalition. Listen out for the distant sound of wedding bells as we near the 2015 election.A theme of differentiation was also played out, with the likes of Mr Cable and Mr Alexander insisting certain things, such as splitting the banks and raising the tax-free allowance, only happened because the nice LibDems were in government.Yet for all the positive talk of optimism by the leading players, a sense of anxiety was tangible.Certainly, the polls are bad. The party is wallowing at around 10%, while Mr Clegg's personal ratings are terrible. One snapshot suggested that of all the main party leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister was the least trusted to take Britain through the economic storm.As Mr Clegg lashes himself to the mast of coalition amid the political and economic hurricanes, he must be hoping that the "flickering flame of liberalism", which he referred to in his keynote speech, is not snuffed out but emerges brighter and stronger and convinces the public that the Liberal Democrats have been that "benign" influence on government – and have not just become yellow Tories.

Contextual targeting label:

Local government

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Feared storm never hit subdued conference

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED