Ask a Silly Question
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats
PPC for Amber Valley, Kate Smith replies to Lib Dems 4 Change,
Dear Lib Dems 4 Change,
Thank you for your email. You're not, however, likely to change my mind by sending it twice. (Sorry that it has elicited a certain amount of abuse, not usually helpful.)
The letter makes clear that Nick Clegg did the right thing leading the Lib Dems into Coalition under very difficult circumstances, and that he has also achieved remarkable things that would not otherwise have been possible. We seem to be agreed on that at least.
The only logical reason for ditching such a good and prescient leader would be if you were all against his having led us into Coalition and had never believed in it from the start. That would at least have been honest.
Instead you want it both ways: you want to praise him and at the same time tell him to resign now - with Nominations for the General Election (after a fixed term Parliament he has achieved) less than 11 months away.
Illogical, Captain. It would be the worst of all worlds - a new leader with next to no time to settle to the role and the scale of the task ahead, plus on top of that Parliamentarians, volunteers and members at every level confused. PPCs not sure how to respond. Media having an absolute field day (not to mention the Farage Luddites).
Of course some will be bitter (hard-fought and lost is always a difficult combination to bear). Of course. But I ask the same question as Richard Kemp did on 23 May much more skilfully than I can: are you going to be in a room plotting and muttering, or are you resolving to get back out onto the streets and re-state our clear messages on the doorsteps?
Go and tear up your letter and re-start playing ball. Remember your commitment, so unforgiveably easily and suddenly dropped at the sight of a major setback. You should know better. We've had setbacks before. Listen to Paddy Ashdown (all of us enjoy doing that). And you will be forgiven, but you will have to work twice as hard to deserve it if my instincts are anything to go by.
Liberal and Democratic warm wishes