(not satire – it’s the coalition)
Some of the mainstream press have been reporting that an adviser to Ed Miliband has defected from Labour to the Liberal Democrats.
What they don’t mention is that Phil Taylor was already a Liberal Democrat from as far back as the 1990s when he worked as Parliamentary Assistant to Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes – now deputy leader of the Lib Dems as well as Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties in the coalition government.
It’s true that later on Taylor did work as an adviser to Labour MPs Peter Hain and Ben Bradshaw – as well as an adviser to Ed Miliband – and according to Peter Hain’s autobiography Taylor was also one of the main figures pushing for a Labour/Lib Dem deal in the days after the last general election.
In fact it was while I was perusing Peter Hain’s autobiography that I came across this little mentioned quote on the Lib Dems by Tory MP Ed Vaizey – who is now Culture Minister.
Hain bumped into Vaizey at a Chelsea match – and Vaizey had this extraordinary thing to say about the negotiations which were going on at the time between the Lib Dems and the Tories on forming the coalition:
“We are going to scr*w over the Liberals“
All of these things raise a few questions in my mind:
- What was a Lib Dem doing working as an adviser to Labour MPs – and the Labour leader?
- How come Hain didn’t reveal what Vaizey said to him at the time?
- Was it because he didn’t want to scupper a Lib Dem/Tory coalition deal?
- Why would he do that?
- If – as it seems – everyone in Westminster knew that the Tories were openly boasting about scr*wing over the Lib Dems in the coalition, why didn’t Nick Clegg know?
- Or did Clegg know his party was going to be scr*wed over by the Tories but he was so keen on getting a ministerial chauffeur-driven car – he didn’t care?
Here’s the extract from Hain’s book with Vaizey’s quote in context:
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What do you think?
Please feel free to comment. And share. Thanks.
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You can order Hain’s book ‘Outside In’ from Amazon here.
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The Infamous Culex said:
Clegg was so desperate to get some temporary power in politics that he willingly -and wilfully – sold out anything and everything to obtain it, in the vain hope that the Tories might bring n proportional representation.
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Pete B said:
I don’t think Clegg thought he would get PR,if so,why did he not get a written solid agreement.What did he get,flipping AV.
And the reason everyone voted against AV,was they hated Clegg and the LibDems for propping up the most far right government since Thatcher.
Don’t forget Clegg worked for Leon Brittan,a senior Tory,Clegg was also a member of Cuca.The Cambridge University Conservative Association.
So I think Clegg was very much at home with Cameron and the Tories.Clegg being a Orange Booker was to the far right of the LibDems.He was,in all but name a Tory IMHO.
And yes the LibDems have been well and truly Screwed Over,they are going back to lost deposit status,because the leadership backed Clegg all the way.
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Mike Sivier said:
Reblogged this on Vox Political.
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thostids said:
“Most far right Government since Mrs T”. Who do you think actually agrees with this? Cameron is pure Tory Reform Group. His photo pin-up is Macmillan. The man out-wets wets in Mrs T’s Cabinet. Indeed, the wets are in his Cabinet and pretending to be right-wing.
“Austerity”? Pulease….
Undoubtedly, the Limpdems are finished politically. They lied and broke a promise which will see them wiped out.
The odd/Odd unprincipled one might survive but they are going back to meeting in a Telephone Box and sharing a Taxi, if they can find the fare.
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MrChekaMan said:
The Lib Dems will only have a few MPs left when the voters have finished with them, and it’ll take them another twenty years or so to repair the damage. Not that I feel sorry for them. Everything from the loss of legal aid to the bedroom tax to the Gagging law is their fault.
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jaypot2012 said:
Reblogged this on Jay's Journal and commented:
An eye opener…
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sean said:
“Who do you think actually agrees with this?”
Anyone who has been paying attention. This government has done things beyond Thatchers wildest dreams, and she was more than bad enough.
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rainbowwarriorlizzie said:
Reblogged this on HUMAN RIGHTS & THE SIEGE OF BRITAIN POLITICAL JOURNAL.
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R Wood said:
Who are these ‘liberals’?
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Methusalada said:
Screw all others who deserve to be screwed such is the wisdom gained by most ambitious parliamentarians. Foremost screw the people as shall have no idea on who or what to screw . Here enmesh fidelity by a kissing of a ring on the first lesson given by every Secretary States private secretary to fledgling wannabe Ministers.
Blessed be the Civil Service advisers & administrators of HM the Queens Government for they rule this greed & pleasant land.
So basically it’s about whose ring one kisses to get access of entry.
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