Follow the leader

Sep 19 2007 by Rob Merrick, Liverpool Daily Post

THE fresh air on the Brighton seafront cannot hide the smell of dread and dismay as the Liberal Democrats slide in the polls under Sir Menzies Campbell.

But the Lib-Dem MPs and foot-soldiers who still swear allegiance to their struggling leader are right not to press the panic button – because, in a bizarre way, their slide may not matter.

Two days at the Lib-Dem conference makes two things crystal clear – that the grumbling about Sir Menzies is growing, but he will still be leader at the next election.

Several factors combine to explain this, the first being the fear of looking ridiculous by removing a second leader less than two years after Charles Kennedy was forced out. After all, reluctant Lib-Dem MPs had a reason to strike against Mr Kennedy – his inability to stay off the sauce – but have no such justification for ousting his replacement.

Just as important, with an election campaign possibly just seven months away, it would be disastrous to appear a divided and chaotic party.

Indeed, the repeated references this week to a possible poll next month – surely unthinkable with panicking Northern Rock customers emptying their accounts – appear a clear attempt to shore up Sir Menzies.

Third, whatever the 66-year-old’s weaknesses as a performer, most Lib-Dem MPs are delighted by the much-improved party organisation since the dilatory days of chat-show Charlie.

The Lib-Dems also have some radical and well-worked out policies, particularly on the environment, that must make their 15% poll ratings seem so unfair.

But 15% they are – leaving many southern Lib-Dem MPs looking nervously over their shoulders at the Conservatives, whose revival will surely claim their seats.

However, whether the Lib-Dems drop from 63 seats to, perhaps, 53 at the next election is far less important than the tantalising prospect of holding the balance of power in a hung Parliament.

It would be then that Sir Menzies could extract his price for keeping Gordon Brown in No 10 – truly radical policies to tackle the climate crisis, or axing ID cards, or voting reform.

It’s far better to stick with their leader. For the Lib-Dems, cutting off the head would be shooting themselves in the foot.

WITH Sir Menzies so chummy with Labour, it was nice to hear Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley putting the passion back into politics at a Capital of Culture reception on Monday.

Cllr Bradley hailed the good news about the city’s renaissance, “despite the impression given by our political opp......” – then, rejecting the word “opponents”, he continued...... “enemies”.

“And they are our enemies in Liverpool,” he growled.