"This could be the first time in a generation that a heel turn by a party is anything other than asking for trouble. The Liberal Democrats are still languishing in the polls, and many who voted for them are disillusioned. But having been strange bedfellows with the Tories, and seeing the harm the coalition's policies have done the country firsthand, this gives them a unique opportunity to speak for the outsiders knowing how to speak the language of the insiders."
-Guardian editorial, 23 September 2011
The Liberal Democrat Party Conference of 2011 was truly one which had a heavy spectre hanging over it. The party seemed to have lost everything: the local elections and Scottish Parliament election of May had been disastrous, the party had implicated itself in serious broken promises over tuition fees and austerity, and they had lost the AV referendum, their best hope for electoral reform.
However, the Tories had not escaped the blame for everything. Their NHS and education reforms had been highly contentious, and with Cameron being embroiled in the phone hacking scandal, he had lost a significant amount of personal credibility, becoming a far cry from the 'transparent' leader he had aspired to be in Opposition.
Sensing the party's morale was low and his credibility was poor, Nick Clegg decided to go for broke. He knew the party's alliance with the Conservatives was always an uneasy one, and could tell its electoral future was already poisoned.
On the final day of the conference in Birmingham, Clegg launched a blistering condemnation of his coalition partners. The shock in the hall was palpable as the leader evoked memories of the Carlton Club meeting of the Conservative Party which brought down the last Liberal-led government, declaring, "It's time we stop letting the Tories make us shoulder the blame for every cut, every failure, every controversy. They claim 'we're all in it together', but really they've elevated themselves to a plane where they can say that without taking the real consequences."
By the end of the speech, shock had turned to delight, and his proclamation that 'the bird of liberty must rise from the ashes like a phoenix. For the good of the country, we have to acknowledge we are more powerful standing against the oppressive measures of this government than helping defend them,' was met with a standing ovation. Among others, former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and Party President Tim Farron seemed impressed, if still shaken by, the challenge.
The next day, Clegg officially resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and led his MPs out of the coalition, seeking not to be seen as waffling over the claim he had set out. Cameron was visibly shaken by the withdrawal, and despite his attempts to pin Clegg for hypocrisy over 'the national interest', he had spoken up in a way which was quite unlike the Deputy Prime Minister.
Nobody was sure what would happen to Clegg or his party. Some speculated he would be forced to resign if their poll numbers did not improve; others felt the Lib Dems might yet stake a claim to being a party of government forced out by the brutality of their colleagues.
One thing was sure: the rest of the Parliament would be extremely unpredictable.
-Guardian editorial, 23 September 2011
The Liberal Democrat Party Conference of 2011 was truly one which had a heavy spectre hanging over it. The party seemed to have lost everything: the local elections and Scottish Parliament election of May had been disastrous, the party had implicated itself in serious broken promises over tuition fees and austerity, and they had lost the AV referendum, their best hope for electoral reform.
However, the Tories had not escaped the blame for everything. Their NHS and education reforms had been highly contentious, and with Cameron being embroiled in the phone hacking scandal, he had lost a significant amount of personal credibility, becoming a far cry from the 'transparent' leader he had aspired to be in Opposition.
Sensing the party's morale was low and his credibility was poor, Nick Clegg decided to go for broke. He knew the party's alliance with the Conservatives was always an uneasy one, and could tell its electoral future was already poisoned.
On the final day of the conference in Birmingham, Clegg launched a blistering condemnation of his coalition partners. The shock in the hall was palpable as the leader evoked memories of the Carlton Club meeting of the Conservative Party which brought down the last Liberal-led government, declaring, "It's time we stop letting the Tories make us shoulder the blame for every cut, every failure, every controversy. They claim 'we're all in it together', but really they've elevated themselves to a plane where they can say that without taking the real consequences."
By the end of the speech, shock had turned to delight, and his proclamation that 'the bird of liberty must rise from the ashes like a phoenix. For the good of the country, we have to acknowledge we are more powerful standing against the oppressive measures of this government than helping defend them,' was met with a standing ovation. Among others, former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and Party President Tim Farron seemed impressed, if still shaken by, the challenge.
The next day, Clegg officially resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and led his MPs out of the coalition, seeking not to be seen as waffling over the claim he had set out. Cameron was visibly shaken by the withdrawal, and despite his attempts to pin Clegg for hypocrisy over 'the national interest', he had spoken up in a way which was quite unlike the Deputy Prime Minister.
Nobody was sure what would happen to Clegg or his party. Some speculated he would be forced to resign if their poll numbers did not improve; others felt the Lib Dems might yet stake a claim to being a party of government forced out by the brutality of their colleagues.
One thing was sure: the rest of the Parliament would be extremely unpredictable.