Lib Dem Difficulties
This is bad weekend for Liberal Democrats. There appears to be tension between Clegg and Cable over tuition fees. The latter has been buffeted by seemingly the inexplicable logic of hinting he may vote against his own policy. The voting public, uncluttered by the quite complex psychology of being a Lib Dem in government when most of them come from a mould of perpetual opposition, look on in mild confusion. Students who voted Lib Dem on a promise, one which they were told could and would not be broken, find that it is about to be.
Nick Clegg thinks it is a jolly good policy anyway, is airy fairy about reneging on his signed pledge and thinks future generations will applaud the u-turn. They may do, but they are unlikely to be Liberal Democrats. Indeed one or two more mishaps and there may be no such thing by then anyway.
It is all the more peculiar to now learn that a popular Lib Dem M.P. employs as his researcher a glamorous young lady who is not only Russian but alleged by MI5 to be a spy. I do not think state secrets are involved; more likely indiscretions, opinions and nuances similar to the American diplomatic cables. I am all for getting closer to the Russians and I think we are rather out of date in our view of them. After all, many support a football club and read newspapers owned by Russians. However I wonder how many English people are helping in the Kremlin.
All in all it is going to be a difficult week for the Liberal Democratic party. The question to resolve is not how its M.Ps vote on a contentious issue, but whether the party is actually cut out for government at all.