The so-called ‘London economic entity’ which has been cited by the CrossRail peddlers as the ‘more important part of the UK economy’! We have consistently questioned and exposed this contrivance, this falsehood. . We have shown over the past [almost] seven years of the campaign against the Crossrail scam that the claim that “London” funded or kept alive the rest of the UK economy was a lie that was in urgent need of being exposed and stopped. The ‘regions’ that WE HAVE stood up for have themselves been silent or very slow in catching up. And here we refer to the ‘mainstream’ ‘politicians’ = the MPs – and the ‘mainstream media’, like the ‘Yorkshire Post’. [To be continued]
The following piece has been taken from the online article published today [Thursday 23 September 2010] by the YORKSHIRE POST:
--------------
"Diana Wallis: the jury's still out, but the Lib Dem verdict looks promising”
Published Date: 21 September 2010
WHATEVER difficulties may face the coalition Government, the Liberal Democrats still remain the only home for progressive and social
Democrats.
This is one conclusion that can be drawn form this week's party
Conference in Liverpool. It should have been a celebration following an astounding performance by Nick Clegg in the election debates that, at times, promised a Liberal Democrat landslide and which, despite the final results perhaps not living up to expectations, was far from the wipe-out predicted by some prophets of doom.
Then, of course, came the real test as the Liberal Democrats entered the coalition Government. Depending on your point of view, it was
either the icing on the cake or a poisoned chalice.
For me, seeing a Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister taking PMQs was something really so special that I still have to pinch myself, just as I have to watch myself when speaking publicly now we are "the Government".
However, it has been beneficial that the party headed northwards for this year's conference. The Labour-leaning press imagines that there has been or will be a total collapse of our support in those Labour cities where we have carefully garnered support and, subsequently, power over the last years.
Yet, while there may be some who are disappointed, my sense is that the jury is still out and there remains a huge sense of goodwill towards the coalition. Generally, people seem relieved by the calmer political climate and the spectacle of politicians trying to work together for the benefit of the country.
Of course, we don't yet know where the heralded cuts will actually fall and much will depend on the successful linkage to real reform. What is sure is that any Labour government would have had to cut, too, and my sense is that most people would rather see two parties involved in making those choices than one alone.
There has been more than the normal lip-service attempt to consult so that if cuts have to be made and if they are shown to have been made in an inclusive, fair and transparent way that may help with acceptance.
Of course, it will not stop the pain that may fall on many individuals in terms of lost jobs or services, but the test will be to see in a few years' time if our economy and lifestyles are healthier and greener, and the burden of debt has been lifted from future generations.
What I find irritating about those commentators who talk about a Lib Dem stampede to Labour is their collective amnesia. Perhaps I am more aware of it than most as a Liberal Democrat who came to the party via a family of Labour supporters (indeed, my mother was a Labour councillor) and then subsequently from the SDP.
I find, on analysis, that the reasons I made the journey I did and my consequent comfort with my party is no different today than when I
first excitedly joined the SDP in the late 1980s. Labour out of power, and even more so during 13 long years in power, has not made the grade and, in fact, was a huge disappointment on many core issues.
Just let's recall, under Labour after all, the gap between rich and poor has widened, the tax loopholes and bonus culture was shameful, education is still dogged by elitism, our health service is top heavy with administration, the opportunity to become more European was missed and, internationally, we are marked out as the perpetrators of an
illegal war. Add to this we are up to ears in debt!
Labour also oversaw an incredible over-centralisation of both
government and resources in the south-east of England. London's Crossrail project is just one example of where Labour's focus on an economic agenda for the South- East was to the detriment of the rest of the country.
The coalition agreement contained nothing that I found unacceptable, even on Europe, which remains a key issue for me. It is pragmatic on Europe which frankly fits the current mood and the out and
out "Eurosceptics" have been sidelined. On justice, if this Government rights the wrong done to Equitable Life policyholders across Europe after a decade of miscegenation, then it will have displayed its commitment to fairness. This will be a good test for the coalition, where the Treasury will need to be held off in the interests of justice.
For those that came to the Liberal Democrats from a progressive social democrat route there is much to be proud of and the future of British politics remains hugely exciting.
Whichever Miliband brother eventually leads the Labour Party, he will have a huge job, over the next five years, in wresting away the progressive agenda from a Liberal Democrat party becoming increasingly at ease with the responsibility of government.
Diana Wallis is a Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and is a Vice President of the European Parliament.