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Well here we are again, the start of the Party Conference Season and what jollies we can look forward to in what inevitably is the start of a run-in to a General Election which is likely to be next April but in all honesty, should be far sooner, October will do fine.

However, we kick off with the Liberal Democratic Party and oh what jolly fun ! I am sure as the delegates gather there will be many tales of Allotment Waiting Lists locally, runner beans and other such wholesome stuff but little in the way of “kick the door down” politics.

A Leadership Problem

The core problem for the LibDems is primarily they have a dearth of political talent and apart from Clegg, the only other person the general public would be aware of is Vince Cable.

Whilst Vince Cable is truly impressive, time or age is not on his side and frankly, after the next election, I would hope there is a contested election for the Speaker and Vince wins. He would be a major asset to the Nation and Parliament in that role. The only shame was that he didn’t stand when Martin was booted out because Vince could turn Parliament around, he has the experience, humanity and gravitas to restore Parliament’s reputation with the public.

I’m afraid that Nick Clegg just doesn’t come across as in any way mature, intellectually connected or even paying attention most of the time. Being LibDem Leader can drive you to drink because they are a totally undisciplined rabble but what the Party needs most is a Neil Kinnock or David Cameron of their own to kick the Party into shape at the grass roots level if they are to have a shot at being in contention for Government.

The Problem

Given the times and events over these past two years, the fact that the LibDems haven’t eaten into Labour support in any meaningful way, is a condemnation in itself, they have got it wrong, one might say, totally wrong and making all the promises in the world that you know you will never have to deliver on, changes nothing, it just makes them look adolescent as in a 14 year old saying: “If I ruled the World I would…”

The reality is that if the LibDems at their Party Conference cannot launch a very serious political manifesto promoting themselves as a possible Government at this forthcoming General Election, they never will be able to ever, it should be an open goal !

Cameron has taken a three times defeated and demoralised party and in what, just 3 years, totally turned it around and got it “sorted”. Of course it is a “Two Party Race” but that is because of our Adversarial System, the LibDems have spent far too much time on special pleading over PR instead of playing the game by the existing rules which once in power they could change. But the cynic in me wonders under such circumstances, would they ?

Electoral Reform

Yes, it is faintly ludicrous that you can have a majority Government with only 25% of the potential electors voting for them nationally but the reality is that it is the temper of this Country that we give someone the job on the basis that we will sack them next time round if they don’t perform. PR will deliver permanent coalition governments and that just really isn’t us !

Let’s be honest here, the LibDems were always the “acceptable alternative vote” for middle class people who would normally vote Tory but, over three General Elections, whilst they increased their numbers of seats, they didn’t marginalize the Tories, did they ? Today given the total disarray of Brown’s Labour Party where the LibDems taking votes off them must be like stealing candy from a baby, they are making no progress either.

So LibDem members, as you sup your skinny lattes on the sea front, you need to face the fact that nobody is buying into you is the harsh reality.

The LibDems Need a Constituency

Formed by an alliance of the Whigs and the Chartist Movement, the Liberal Party was a radical, anti-establishment party who’s political clothes were stolen by the Labour Movement. Today’s LibDems need to get down dirty with the girls and establish a “constituency” or power base, being all things to all people is an obvious waste of time.

They need a central core value of theme around which to ‘hang’ the idea of what being a LibDem means in real terms – Mother’s Milk and large breasts – whatever there has to be a core value of some kind. For Labour it is the “Nanny State”, for the Tories the “Small State” for LibDems ?

Historically, there are only two British “themes”, Evolution and Revolution, in every age and under varying circumstances, that is what the public or “great unwashed” if you prefer, always choose between, “Nice” isn’t a theme ! Go on, shove some sugar in your latte – live dangerously, become the “Healthy Life-Style” Party, large bosoms, neat bums and small waists, build your policies around achieving that, your annal fixation on the EU is doing you no good at all.

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