Lib Dem Conference 2011- Some Conclusions

After a week of Nick Clegg’s face dominating our newspapers and televisions, it would be rude not to draw some conclusions from the Liberal Democrats’ Conference.

It is evident that Nick Clegg, despite much criticism from the public and even members of his own party, is here for the long haul. On The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Clegg firmly denied claims by the Daily Mail that he promised his wife Miriam that he would be leaving after one term. Clegg exclaimed that he is set to stay “well beyond” one term and will remain a firm part of the Coalition Government until May 2015 elections.

There has also been great confidence within the party that the Liberal Democrats exert real influence within the Coalition. Tory MP, Nadine Dorries, expressed that Clegg was becoming “too powerful” within the Government- some however, would beg to differ. The initial broken promise of scrapping tuition fees was enough to convince many that the Coalition was heading in the direction of the alleged "65 years of the same two parties making the same old mistakes" as Clegg explained in the Lib Dem Manifesto of 2010. To quote Vince Cable, Business Secretary: “The roads to Westminster are covered with the skidmarks of different political parties changing direction” – no party has fulfilled his words moreso than the Liberal Democrats themselves. The Health Bill has recently been re-written, with the Lib Dems taking praise for many of the changes, which suggests that perhaps the party have finally set about exercising more influence on important decisions to avoid criticism.

Finally, much talk has been of the “difficult” year that the party have had to deal with; coming bottom of opinion polls for months. However, the Lib Dems should be instead considering the difficult years ahead for Britain. Clegg explained that the further cuts that are to be implemented in the near future are the “right thing” for Britain’s economy. This goes against advice from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) suggesting that further cuts will take Britain back into a double dip recession. Good one Clegg, roll on 2015.