Carman: Why Barnsley put me sixth (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Carman: Why Barnsley put me sixth

March 10, 2011 9:43 AM

carman • [Mar 09] Dominic Carman: WHAT is the point of the Liberal Democrats? As the candidate who came sixth in last week's Barnsley Central by-election, it is a subject close to my heart. I frequently addressed the theme during the campaign, though the question was never put directly. From the disastrous result a familiar lesson emerged: when the traditional party of protest becomes a party of government, the game changes. Profoundly.

. . "You're just bloody Tories with a yellow badge on", or "You're worse than the bloody Tories", were common complaints. "How could you form a coalition with those evil Conservative bastards?" a typical question on the doorstep. Many voters took one look at the yellow rosette on my lapel only to slam the door in my face without a word.

. . On everything from social justice to education, taxation to health, defence to welfare, Lib Dems must dare to be different from the Conservatives.

The process should start now, not weeks before the next general election. Lib Dems need to re-engage with voters and start a wide consultation process on future policy. This is not the time for introverted contemplation or talking only to the party faithful. The electorate need to know what makes the Lib Dems different from the Conservatives. They need to know it unambiguously, and they need to know it soon, before the identity of the two parties becomes any more blurred, with blue being the predominant colour.

• Why Barnsley put me sixth [Comment is free Mar 09]

• What it's like to be the most despised man in the town political correctness forgot (and come SIXTH in a by-election) [Dominic Carman MailonSunday Mar 06]