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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Matthew Norman: The change of leader that is the Lib Dems' only hope
July 28, 2011 5:54 PM
• [Jul 27] Matthew Norman writes: TO The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable: an apology. Last December, in keeping with mainstream opinion among fellow commentators ("the poncetariat"), this column suggested that the Business Secretary was a vain and foolish old geezer who shot his bolt by showing off to a couple of young female reporters posing as constituents. I now wish to say sorry to Dr Cable for that hideous misjudgment.
Don McLean put it more elegantly in the lyrical paean to disregarded genius that he presciently entitled "Vincent". "And now I understand what you tried to say to me/ How you suffered for your sanity/ How you tried to set them free," goes the chorus. "They would not listen/ They did not know how/ Perhaps they'll listen now."
And perhaps they won't, because Cable seems cast as Westminster's own Van Gogh. Dishonoured and ignored when trying to flog such alarming portraits as Imminent Financial Armageddon and Evils Of The Murdochracy, he is deified as a visionary master only when the recognition comes too late to do him good. It's enough to drive a proud chap to hallucinogenic liquor and aural auto-surgery
. . A party prepared to sleepwalk to disaster rather than endure the agony of removing a zombie leader commits suicide. Labour under Mr Brown confirmed this, but had no natural replacement. The Lib Dems have no such excuse. They have the outstanding British politician of the age in front of their eyes. If they lack the sense to see this or the will to act on what they see, they will sign their own death warrant and deserve their execution.
• Matthew Norman: The change of leader that is the Lib Dems' only hope [Independent Jul 27]
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