Nick Clegg: Only the Lib Dems listen to Britain

from the Guardian UK:



Nick Clegg: Only the Lib Dems listen to Britain
David Cameron and Gordon Brown live in a parallel universe. At this leaders' debate I'll show that only the Liberal Democrats represent real change

Nick Clegg
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 21 April 2010


For me, the most exciting moment in the last few days was the news that thousands of young people have rushed to register to vote before it was too late. Thousands of young people who otherwise would have been disenfranchised have asserted their right to be heard, asserted their right to shape their futures. The frustration and boredom at the stale old choices have given way to an enthusiasm and excitement that this time things could be different.

An election campaign that was poised to become a sterile trench battle between Labour and Conservative campaign managers has instead turned into something more inspiring: an election driven by people, not politicians.

As it dawns on them that the British people won't simply do what they're told, the Conservatives have made the huge error of choosing fear over hope. Ludicrous threats are being made by David Cameron and his team about market and political turmoil if people don't vote Conservative. It won't work because people don't want to be told to fall into line by Cameron. People have sensed that there is a greater choice, greater freedom, this time – they won't be bullied back into the politics of the past.

But if this turn of events appears sudden, the reasons stretch back years. The cracks in the duopoly of British politics have been growing over a long period of time. Back in the 1950s, rigid two-choice politics was complete. In the 1951 general election only 2% of voters opted for anyone other than Labour and Conservative. It was a world of two halves: communism v capitalism; north v south; left v right; working class v the wealthy; trade unions v employers; Labour v Conservative. Social and class identities were relatively stable, and class-based political affiliations were part of the glue that cemented those identities. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/21/duopoly-parallel-universe-lib-dem