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‘Spineless’ Lib Dems are driving the Tories crazy
The Mole: Norman Lamb threat to quit government comes as cracks show in Cameron facade
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has this morning backed his bag carrier Norman Lamb who yesterday threatened to resign if changes to the coalition's NHS reforms were not made.
The Deputy Prime Minister told the BBC Today programme: "I could not agree with Norman more" - doubtless bringing gasps from Tory grassroots listeners who are getting sick to death of the Lib Dems dictating government policy.
Lamb is calling for an 'evolution' rather than a revolution, as with the schools reforms. GPs would be allowed to opt into the scheme for taking over the NHS budget from primary care trusts rather than being forced to do so.
This is clearly going to be the new coalition NHS policy. Which raises the question: what does health secretary Andrew Lansley, whose original plan has been deemed too radical, do now?
It looks as if Tubby Lansley will simply have to to go along with a watered-down policy. He had to eat humble pie last week when he announced the 'pause, listen reflect' approach to his policy. It now seems he will be on a diet of humble pie for some time to come.
But it also raises questions about David Cameron's leadership. He has allowed Lansley to have his head on health for nearly a year now, before pulling him back. The Tories in the country have been taking a pasting over it. They could lose a lot of support in the local elections in May as a result.
Pity the poor bloody Tory infantry. Having been marched to the top of the hill, Cameron is marching them down again. And they are spitting tacks. When Lamb threatened to resign, the reaction on the grassroots Tory website ConservativeHome was instantaneous:
"Another hand-wringing Lib Dem," wrote one. "I'm sick to death of this bunch of spineless cowards holding the Government to ransom."
Others added: "I watched this train wreck. He should be sacked" and "Man should be horsewhipped."
Of course, these could all be spoof remarks from Labour activists posing as Tories, but they are just as likely to come from anonymous Conservative ministers. The loathing for the Lib Dems from the Tory grassroots has an authentic ring, if Westminster Conservatives are anything to go by.
With their first anniversary fast approaching, the Cameron-Clegg honeymoon is well and truly over. Also, after this climbdown, Cameron's competence in leadership will rightly be questioned.
His military gamble on Libya now looks as sick as a bet on Dooneys Gate in the Grand National. The diplomatic 'coup' of bringing Moussa Koussa - Gaddafi's foreign affairs spokesman - to London has backfired as people realise he is dealing with a gangster.
The defence cuts are unravelling amid growing anger that while two wars are raging, the MoD is handing out redundancy notices to troops on the front line.
No wonder Cameron is feeling the heat. Cracks are beginning to show in that beatifically smiling exterior. Wayne Rooney-style, Cameron even used the 'F' word to a journalist on the plane back from Pakistan last week.
He was furious with the negative reporting of his remarks to students after being asked how he would heal the wounds over the British creation of Kashmir, which had led to a bitter and prolonged feud with India.
Cameron said: "I don't want to try to insert Britain in some leading role where, as with so many of the world's problems, we are responsible for the issue in the first place." This was seen as an apology for Britain's colonial past and the right-wing press were outraged.
On the flight home to the UK, Cameron went down to the back of plane for a chat over drinks with the hacks. When the inoffensive James Kirkup of the Daily Telegraph told him how his paper would be reporting his "apology" the next day, Cameron exploded: "You fuck!"
On Wednesday, Cameron is going on a 'listening' tour with Clegg and Lansley to try to ease the row over the changes to the health service. It's now looking like a complete sham. Cameron has waved the white flag to his Lib Dem partners over the health policy.
No wonder, the Tory foot soldiers are hopping mad. No wonder, too, that they're praying that Clegg and the Lib Dems fail to win the AV referendum and get trounced in the local elections on May 5. ·
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At the moment Clegg looks like the poodle's poodle.
The realpolitik of the devolved nations with minority governments who rule by compromise will soon be transferred to Westminster with AV. Do we in Scotland & Wales feel poorly governed when 'other' parties force through compromises?? No? - thought not! Better have a fleet of ambulances with resuscitation equipment standing by in Tunbridge Wells though
Could someone perhaps explain to me what is "spineless" about standing up for something you believe in? Surely to meekly go along with it would be the truly spineless thing? The Tories are naturally annoyed because they hoped that the Lib Dems in coalition would simply be there to make up the numbers while they pursued a forceful right-wing agenda. When they have the temerity to say what they think about a Tory (yes, Tory) policy, they are displeased. Well too bad. It's rather sad that the Lib Dems are roundly criticized from one side if they go along with a government policy and then from the other if they don't. Hence they are simply attempting to get on with the job and hope that the public will see past this childish sniping. They're part of this government - deal with it Tories. And deal with it Labour. In fact - deal with it everyone. If you'd wanted a Tory government you could have voted one in.
This is a most encouraging argument, and an enlightening article. It proves what has been said by many in the last few years - all the old three parties are as bad as each other, and are quite easily interchangeable with one another. The 'Man in a Shed' comment above is far too pessimistic - I see the awfulness of the LibDems are something that is easily generalised to Lab and Con (hence the phrase 'LibLabCon'), and therefore tars them all equally - you are known by your friends..................................and as for the quote from the article itself - "Another hand-wringing Lib Dem," wrote one. "I'm sick to death of this bunch of spineless cowards holding the Government to ransom."...... BUT THEY ARE THE GOVERNMENT!
Dear Mr Mole - the loathing of the Lib Dems is authentic all right. They are spineless gutless cowards who would and do stab you in the back at the first opportunity. ( Just ask the recent list of ex-Lib Dem leaders. ) The only good Lib Dem is one who's just lost their deposit.