From: Liberal Conspiracy
Last month’s announcement on the proposals for constituency boundary changes has got many MPs genuinely worried that they will lose their seats. Tory MPs have been planning for even longer – and have a body known as the Forty Group to try to boost the electioneering capabilities within their (40) most marginal seats.
However, the political parties need to be thinking along the same lines. The Fixed Term Parliaments Bill has now committed the UK to elections every 5 years, and the Lib Dems have also made plain that this is a one term Con-Dem Government.
They are now fully integrated into Government and now appreciate that wins and losses come along the way. They are both a brake and an engine on the Tories – preventing some unwelcome policies – such as the repeal of the Human Rights Act – but also supporting other undesirable ones – such as the expansion of tuition fees.
This is now hitting home with their social democratically inclined MPs – such as Tim Farron and Vince Cable – who made clear during their party conference that this is going to end in divorce.
The polling averages currently have Labour on 40%, the Tories on 36% and the Lib Dems on 11%. This translates to a Labour majority of 46, with the Lib Dems dropping to just 18 seats.
However, given the general unpopularity of the Tories currently, they can expect to see their vote share increase closer to the election. Couple that with the fact that the proposed boundary changes are essentially a whitewash – hitting Labour and the Lib Dems much harder – it is going to be very tight.
Of course, any supporter of Labour will be looking for a resounding win for the party in 2015. However, it is key that the wider picture is considered – and consideration given to the possibility of another hung Parliament.
Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are still quite far apart – and we all remember the AV election campaign – so a different approach is required in intra-party relations. Liam Byrne is currently in charge of a policy review for Labour – and this is the right time to reach out to left-leaning Lib Dems, such as their President Tim Farron.
Let’s not forget – whilst they don’t run the party now – they are still the clear majority and the Orange bookers the minority. Byrne should engage Farron within his policy discussions for strategic electoral purposes.
And the reason is simple. There is clear overlap on the environment, constitutional reform, the EU, reforming the tax system, and looking after vulnerable people.
However Labour could go further by supporting Cable’s Mansion Tax, proposing a Royal Commission on Land Tax, backing raising of the Personal Allowance, giving greater care to civil liberties and holding a full review of Trident. And let’s be clear – these are progressive policies which Labour should be pursuing anyway – but it will give them a solid contingency plan.
And of course, it’s understandable for Labour supporters to be angry at the Lib Dems for jumping into bed with their enemies – however this short-termism will achieve nothing – and may only push them even further towards the Tories.
Last month’s announcement on the proposals for constituency boundary changes has got many MPs genuinely worried that they will lose their seats. Tory MPs have been planning for even longer – and have a body known as the Forty Group to try to boost the electioneering capabilities within their (40) most marginal seats.
However, the political parties need to be thinking along the same lines. The Fixed Term Parliaments Bill has now committed the UK to elections every 5 years, and the Lib Dems have also made plain that this is a one term Con-Dem Government.
They are now fully integrated into Government and now appreciate that wins and losses come along the way. They are both a brake and an engine on the Tories – preventing some unwelcome policies – such as the repeal of the Human Rights Act – but also supporting other undesirable ones – such as the expansion of tuition fees.
This is now hitting home with their social democratically inclined MPs – such as Tim Farron and Vince Cable – who made clear during their party conference that this is going to end in divorce.
The polling averages currently have Labour on 40%, the Tories on 36% and the Lib Dems on 11%. This translates to a Labour majority of 46, with the Lib Dems dropping to just 18 seats.
However, given the general unpopularity of the Tories currently, they can expect to see their vote share increase closer to the election. Couple that with the fact that the proposed boundary changes are essentially a whitewash – hitting Labour and the Lib Dems much harder – it is going to be very tight.
Of course, any supporter of Labour will be looking for a resounding win for the party in 2015. However, it is key that the wider picture is considered – and consideration given to the possibility of another hung Parliament.
Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are still quite far apart – and we all remember the AV election campaign – so a different approach is required in intra-party relations. Liam Byrne is currently in charge of a policy review for Labour – and this is the right time to reach out to left-leaning Lib Dems, such as their President Tim Farron.
Let’s not forget – whilst they don’t run the party now – they are still the clear majority and the Orange bookers the minority. Byrne should engage Farron within his policy discussions for strategic electoral purposes.
And the reason is simple. There is clear overlap on the environment, constitutional reform, the EU, reforming the tax system, and looking after vulnerable people.
However Labour could go further by supporting Cable’s Mansion Tax, proposing a Royal Commission on Land Tax, backing raising of the Personal Allowance, giving greater care to civil liberties and holding a full review of Trident. And let’s be clear – these are progressive policies which Labour should be pursuing anyway – but it will give them a solid contingency plan.
And of course, it’s understandable for Labour supporters to be angry at the Lib Dems for jumping into bed with their enemies – however this short-termism will achieve nothing – and may only push them even further towards the Tories.
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