Politicians and Me, Nick Robinson
Liberal Democrat Leadership Election 2008
Nick Clegg: 21,308 (49.8%)
Chris Huhne: 21,452 (50.2%)
extract from 'Chris Huhne' from Politicians and Me, Nick Robinson
The reign of Chris Huhne as leader of the Liberal Democrats would prove to be one of the most influential on the shaping of 21st century British politics. The direction in which Huhne would decide to take the party, after scraping through the leadership election against Nick Clegg by 144 votes, was a decision that would prove impossible to please all quarters. It is perhaps surprising to look back and reflect on the early days of Chris Huhne's leadership and discover that he was frequently accused by certain quarters of being indecisive.
One would argue that only in the strange world of the Liberal Democrats could a single 302 page book prove so influential on the inner workings of a party. "The Orange Book: Reclaiming Liberalism", released in 2004, would prove to do just that. The book included contributions from a wide array of Lib Dem politicians; David Laws, Vince Cable, Nick Clegg and the man himself - Chris Huhne. The book proved to be controversial to those advocating a more left wing agenda, when it demanded a return to "basic liberal values" of free trade, and the effectiveness of the private sector.
Some of Huhne's naysayers in the early days of his leadership would accuse him of failing to settle the argument either way. In despite of this though, in his acceptance speech to the leadership the former journalist made it clear that the party did need to set out a clearer path towards liberal economics. However the likes of the defeated Clegg and the editor of the Orange Book of David Laws would be heard grumbling in the deepest holes of Liberal HQ that it was simply not enough. Huhne however made it abundantly clear that his priorities were electoral reform, the cutting of Trident and the need for a greener country. The left of the party would say his economic plans were not reaching the disillusioned Labour voters they needed to win, and the right would argue that his plans were not radical enough. Time could only tell.
Huhne's first frontbench reshuffle provided minimal changes, Vince Cable remaining economic spokepmen, Michael Moore remaining in his role at shadow Foreign Affairs and the man he defeated to become leader Nick Clegg kept his role as Home Affairs spokesmen. Huhne's first real significant moment came with backing the Conservative proposal to hold a referendum on the controversial EU Lisbon Treaty. Rumours were swirling that the party would abstain in favour of a wider vote on EU membership, but Huhne ended these rumours with the declaration that the British people "had to have their say". Gordon Brown's government managed to fend off the opposition; the call for a referendum being defeated by 331 votes to 294.
The matter of the European Union would be one that would frequently dominate much of political discussion in the early days of 2008. Huhne was said to be furious when the Speaker of the Commons Michael Martin blocked calls for an In/Out EU Referendum. Many members of the party promptly walked out of the commons in disgust. As the political world geared up for the 2008 London Mayoral Elections and Local Elections, Labour began to plummet in the polls. Depending on what company you chose to follow, the gap between governing Labour and the Liberal Democrats was as close as one or two points. The Conservatives were building a solid lead of over 10%...