Lib Dem conference: Benefits, bridge-building and bonus bashing

The Liberal Democrats kicked off 2010 conference season with a strange mixture of delegate disapproval and subdued support. With the party in government for the first time in over 60 years, media scrutiny and security were both tightened. Commentators waiting in the wings to interview irate members and report on political gaffes and rebellion were largely left frustrated and although there were sporadic incidents of disharmony, there did not appear to be any appetite for all out opposition to the Coalition or to the party leadership.

Nick Clegg’s opening speech, described by Nick Robinson as ‘largely defensive’ received a luke-warm response from the floor. His statement that spending cuts were not ideological did little to allay member fears, particularly regarding planned cuts to benefits. Indeed, many members made their reservations felt throughout the next day. In essence it was a speech that recognised that triumphalism would be an inappropriate tone given the difficult decisions ahead. But in looking to soothe member anger, it failed to reach audiences beyond the conference floor.

Given the party’s and Nick Clegg’s poll ratings, shoring up the grassroots vote may need to be abandoned in the near future for a more ambitious approach targeting wider audiences, if the Lib Dems are to profit from the Coalition.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, produced a more warmly received speech, and in many ways helped to prevent a maudlin atmosphere developing. This, of course, was safe ground for the Lib Dems, long supporters of the green agenda. But as someone who has often failed to inspire at speech time, this was as much a personal triumph for Huhne as it was for the party. A strident tone that focused on championing consumer rights in the face of rises in energy prices allowed Huhne to push past the difficult question of nuclear power, an obvious stumbling block. By the end of his speech, there was a palpable sense of relief among members, here was a man who understood their concerns and wouldn’t be cowed by Conservative interests.

Of course, this was far from the being the most populist speech of conference. Vince Cable’s speech, leaked in advance, provided the sound-bite of the conference, as he announced "I am shining a harsh light into the murky world of corporate behaviour". Predictably the business world bristled while party members swayed to the theme of perverse bonuses and greedy bankers. Of course, the speech was somewhat more nuanced than this, but it hardly mattered. Cable’s anti-capitalist credentials had seemingly been confirmed, much to media delight, finally the conference’s headline had written itself.

While the confrontational approach was undoubtedly deliberate, so too were the relatively vague promises that accompanied it, recognition perhaps that financial services regulation is not an area to be tackled without Conservative support. While many commentators saw Cable’s comments as a rebellion against Conservative control of economic policy, others saw a more considered approach, possibly endorsed by Conservative HQ. A round of emotive bank bashing helped to demonstrate political autonomy and convince members that the party’s soul had not be subsumed within the Coalition. The wider public meanwhile were given the news they wanted to hear, that behavioural change would be forced upon banks. For the Conservatives meanwhile, a reputation for being business-friendly, economic heavyweights was largely retained as they floated above the debate. Naturally, long-term implications of such an agreed approach would be difficult to predict, but in the short-term, it seems to serve the interests of both parties. How this pans out during the Conservative conference will be of particular interest.

In many senses, this Lib Dem conference failed to spark. There were no real dust ups, and potential points of division both within the party and between the Coalition partners were largely averted. Although Vince Cable’s speech undoubtedly generated a lot of heat, it perhaps generated less light, and the long-term implications do not seem as damaging as first suspected. Despite this, conference undoubtedly had a sombre feel to it and the party is clearly still coming to terms with no longer being political outsiders. It is also clear that the real challenges for the party remain in the coming months. Members who voted against academies and free schools and who vehemently oppose cuts to benefits may well find that this no longer counts for much if Lib Dem policies are rejected in favour of Conservative ones. Managing the fallout from the painful decisions made in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) will no doubt be first on the Lib Dem leadership’s ‘to do’ list.


John Hood - Linstock Consultant
http://www.linstockcommunications.com/