The main effect of Chris Huhne’s resignation is to weaken the Liberal Democrats further, I argue in The Independent on Sunday today. He was the most aggressive in pushing the Lib Dem interest, and in pushing policies to ameliorate climate change, which are one of the few remaining distinctive Lib Dem policies.
Hence his clashes with the Chancellor. Matthew d’Ancona quotes the same part of George Osborne’s conference speech as I do: “We’re going to cut our carbon emissions no slower but also no faster than our fellow countries in Europe.”
D’Ancona suggests that one of the first questions of Ed Davey, the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, should be whether he agrees with that.
One thing that will not provide the Lib Dems with distinctiveness, memorability or popularity is the plan for 20 per cent of the House of Lords to be elected, described by a Tory as “part of Nick Clegg’s campaign for a better Belgium”, according to James Forsyth.
Another reason why Huhne’s departure weakens the Lib Dems, which I did not mention in the column, is that it strips a further layer of innocence from Cleggmania and the idea that the third party represents a new way of doing politics. The Lib Dems have now lost two Cabinet ministers to one Tory for what in America are delicately referred to as “ethics issues”.
So, although Iain Martin did write a brilliant comment on the City of London’s plans to reform Ed Miliband, he is completely wrong to suggest that hardy weed of pointless speculation, the early election. The Lib Dems are not ready, and never will be, so they must put it off for as long as possible.
Eagle Eye 