There seems to be some disquiet in the LibDems about their line on a European referendum. Clegg unilaterally changed their line in his Today Programme interview yesterday, which has not gone down well with some of the Yellow Peril. The party was going to abstain on voting on a referendum but under severe questioning Clegg blurted out that they would actually be whipped to vote against, and support the government.
Norfolk Blogger, Quaequam, Stephen Tall and Gavin Whenman have all slagged off Nick Clegg's refusal to commit his party to a referendum. Tell me, are there any LibDem bloggers at all who support their new leader's calamitous stand? Just asking.
Yes, Paul Walter, I can see you at the back.
16 comments:
From the 'Clegg gets a B+ post'..
"Yes, Nick Clegg is so good he could be a Tory. Maybe he is a Tory ?
But what will the Lib Dems do when they realise this ? Perhaps Clegg is hoping that, as with Tony Blair, by the time his party realise he is not 'one of them', it will be too late...
January 19, 2008 6:59 PM"
[asquith]
"Anonymous at 6:59, I'm afraid Clegg is a true liberal. He is the real deal, the Tories are not. People in the 21st century will not support the Dominic Lawsons and Bruce Andersons of this world.
January 19, 2008 7:22 PM"
It all seems rather prescient now, does it not ? Thought you were getting a 'real' Liberal ? Sad that you find that you have bought a shameless, grasping politician prepared to sacrifice his party's principles for a sniff at a few votes, in the manner of Teflon Tony Blair ?
Too late now ! You are stuck with him for the next General Election and beyond !...
[newmania seems on the money]
Clegg is a Tory but he is a Heathite Tory and the gaping hole between supposed Libertarianism and rabid Pro European obsession will not wash . Nor will this line on voting on the whole thing . Thats how they do it. The EU accretes but if you demur at any stage you have to throw the lot out .
The ratification debate will show him, at his weakest and I do not agree he has done anyhting very good .He occupies ground between Blair and Brown...whats the point of that ?
He is a traitor when all is said and done and for a man with no nation or loyalty like him...why not .
VOTE CLEGG
GET BROWN
January 19, 2008 8:22 PM
[neil craig]
"He sounded presentable on Marr's show this morning. Quite a lot of stuff about choice & "climate change" only got mentioned once. Of course he got an easy ride & wasn't asked anything difficult like the referendum on the EU consti-treaty.
January 20, 2008 3:44 PM"
Andrew Marr strikes again !! Perhaps Brown dropped a little hint to him to avoid this touchy topic.
Oh, it must be sh*t being a Lib Dem.
Change leader every whip stitch, and then, once they are installed you find that there is a little problem..
This one drinks too much..
This one is too old...
This one won't do as he's told...
It must be like in the days of BL where patriotic types would insist on buying British Leyland cars, and the Morris Marina / Austin Princess / Triumph Dolomite would be fine as you drove it out of the showroom, and just about until you got it to your home, and then you noticed a few rattles that weren't there before, and then the problems started...
Hmm... Think I'll pop over to see how they are getting on over at 'Lib Dem Voice'...
Clegg is working directly for the EUssr just like Broon and McLabour.
Their sole mission?, break England into "regions" for Mother Brussels to rule.
What will their "reward" be?.
Good, no, Great Spot Iain.
I wonder how many more 'surprises' Nick 'Boiling Frog' Clegg has up his sleeve as he gently breaks the news to them that he has is own ideas on where to lead the Liberal Democrats ?
Just to let you know, Iain, you have prompted me to stand up and be counted alongside Mr. Walter.
Treachery is all the vogue in Westminster.
When will they bring back burning at the stake?
That used to be popular at one time.
VOTE BREGG
GET CLOWN
The problem is very simple....The Lib Dems are two very seperate parties..The Liberal party, and the Social Democrat party.
Orginally forced together in a marriage of convience, no leader can appease both....
Dear God- this just adds to the entire thesis that the Libbies are a pointless PC EU loving rabble with no real core beliefs hence no real policies. They claim to be 'the most democratic party' in the country- heck, some claim where they won't bring themselves to vote on a referenda regarding the Treaty/Constitution/Lie?Stitch-up.
I don't agree with Clegg's policy either, but it's hardly the end of the world. Not like you're enamoured with Cameron, is it?
Cameron has the right idea on the EU treaty and other things. But the party which actually does stand for personal responsibility, individual liberty, lower taxes is still the LibDems. We won't make a song and dance about how "moral" we are, or masturbate over our ideological purity, we'll just get the job done.
Additionally, "Vote Clegg, get Brown/Cameron" is a despicable anmd cowardly thing to say. I'm going to vote Clegg because I want Clegg, notwithstanding the fact that I disagree with some of his policies.
And don't quote me as "a LibDem", either. I'm not a joiner, and I'm not beholden to any party. I just think they're the best around, and I retain that opinion.
Are there any Conswervative bloggers who still support their leader in spite of his pro-Brit/Scot, anti-English, eurofederalist ways? Yes, most of them and I imagine it's for the same reason the Lib Dum bloggers continue to support their party.
Tell me, are there any Lib Dem bloggers at all who support their new leader’s calamitous stand?
Yes, I do. I may be a sad politico, but even I’m not going to read a whole bloody treaty. So please don’t ask me my opinion of it. I haven’t a clue.
Cameron is still relatively undefined.
Clegg has put himself into a eurobox along with Gordon Brown, and has no room for manoevre. Poor tactician.
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