The Liberal Democrats are preparing to betray us all – again

Last Updated: July 4, 2017By

Tim Farron and Vince Cable – NOT in the talks with Tories that they claim they haven’t had.

The Liberal Democrats are preparing to support the Conservative Party once again, and I told you it would happen.

Despite the protestations of party leader Tim Farron, before the election, that the Lib Dems would not enter any deal with the Conservatives – and he’s on his way out now, bear in mind – the party is now claiming it is perfectly happy to consider supporting Theresa May “on a case-by-case basis”. I told you this would happen.

The Coalition Agreement in 2010 was thrashed out in secret, behind-closed-doors meetings in March that year, and it seems that, despite claims that the Tory approach happened during “a chat in a corridor”, any current deal will be handled in the same way (if it hasn’t already). I told you this would happen.

And when I told you this would happen, several of you wrote in to claim that Mrs May would not need Liberal Democrat help because she would have a massive Parliamentary majority after June 8; that Mr Farron had ruled out not only a coalition but a confidence and supply deal; and that I should correct my own claims accordingly.

I await the necessary apologies from those who made those claims, because I told you this would happen!

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46 Comments

  1. hilary772013 July 5, 2017 at 12:13 am - Reply

    This sickens me, I used to be a lifelong Liberal supporter until they went into coalition with the Tories 2010. I vowed I would never vote for them again. I joined the Labour Party 2016 I’m passionate about JC & his policies. This will be political suicide for them, you would think they would have learned their lesson by now after their last foray with the Tories.

  2. Thomas July 5, 2017 at 4:42 am - Reply

    Last time the Lib Dems helped the Conservatives they went from fifty-seven MPs to a mere eight, if they are not careful their twelve MPs could go down to zero next time. If I had eaten something that put me in hospital, no way would I eat it again.

    • STVE July 5, 2017 at 2:47 pm - Reply

      If Vince Clark becomes the new Lib Dem leader you can expect more treachery from them that’s for sure – these lot never learn by their own mistakes

      • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 6:27 pm - Reply

        If Vince Clarke becomes the new Lib Dem leader I’ll be quite surprised, but I suppose he hasn’t had much to do since Erasure fell out of the charts.

  3. llilli July 5, 2017 at 8:05 am - Reply

    ” party leader Tim Farron, before the election, that the Lib Dems would not enter any deal with the Conservatives”

    Like so many other political commentators, you change things a little to suit your agenda. What was actually said was that the LDs would not enter into a coalition with either the Tories or Labour *under their current leaders*”. So if May were to be replaced by someone the LDs felt they could work with, that would be fine. Ditto Corbyn.

    And, if there were to be an agreement this time, it would be contingent on one non-negotiable condition: rescind A50, and for that an awful lot of other mistakes could be forgiven.

    Also, the 2010 deal was not “behind closed doors” – much of it was posted, as it happened, in closed LD groups. Of course, you wouldn’t know about that.

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 8:49 am - Reply

      No, I know that the 2010 deal was sealed in closed meetings in March of that year, two months before the election.
      I know that none of the other party leaders have changed.
      And I know that the triggering of Article 50 is not about to be rescinded.
      I haven’t changed anything. It seems you – or your Liberal Democrats – have changed a lot.

  4. Roland Laycock July 5, 2017 at 8:19 am - Reply

    The Liberals or Junior Tories would sell there mother to get in power

  5. Florence July 5, 2017 at 10:12 am - Reply

    Of course you hit the nail on the head. Vince Cable is an Orange-booker and perfectly in tune with Mayhem. It was always going to be so, especially as Cable must now be looking to polish his “political legacy” (as if) but elevation has to be on his bucket list.

  6. Barry Davies July 5, 2017 at 10:42 am - Reply

    Clegg ruined the resurgence of the lib dems by accepting a non job to try to look important, add to that the number of lib dems who are anti eu and you got the outcome of the election. Until they look closely at what they are supposed to represent and adopt a democratic outlook they will continue to become more irrelevant.

  7. Slack July 5, 2017 at 10:50 am - Reply

    Also, voting on a case by case basis is not a deal. It’s looking at a law, deciding if it has merit and voting accordingly – which is how a parliament is supposed to work!! Also the Labour Party seem perfeftly happy to vote with the Tories on enacting hard Brexit.

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 1:08 pm - Reply

      No, Labour is not working with the Tories on Brexit.

      Please do not try spreading that lie on This Site.

      Labour has reluctantly bowed to the will of the people, as expressed in the EU referendum result. But Labour’s approach to Brexit is far removed from that of the Conservatives and the only people who believe otherwise are extremely blinkered souls who either can’t see the difference or want to confuse others for their own political ends. Which are you?
      As for whether the Lib Dems and Tories are doing a deal – if they are in talks (and they are), and the Lib Dems are talking about helping the Tories out (and they are), then yes, it is a deal. What you are describing could be done by the Lib Dems without including the Tories in any discussion at all.

      • sunnysombrera July 5, 2017 at 10:09 pm - Reply

        Talks aren’t a deal any more than Turkey engaging in ascencion talks were “joining the EU.”

        Yes Labour ARE persuing the same Brexit as the Tories by desiring to take Britain out of the single market. Which doesn’t have a mandate. Its Corbyn’s choice to do so.

        • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 11:56 pm - Reply

          You are clearly unfamiliar with Sir Keir Starmer’s six tests for Brexit. If any of the following conditions are not met, Labour won’t support a proposed Brexit deal. Here they are:
          1. Does it ensure a strong and collaborative future relationship with the EU?

          2. Does it deliver the “exact same benefits” as we currently have as members of the Single Market and Customs Union?

          3. Does it ensure the fair management of migration in the interests of the economy and communities?

          4. Does it defend rights and protections and prevent a race to the bottom?

          5. Does it protect national security and our capacity to tackle cross-border crime?

          6. Does it deliver for all regions and nations of the UK?

          Did you spot number 2 on that list?

          Now you can stop spouting lies and spread the facts instead. Get to it.

    • Zippi July 5, 2017 at 3:09 pm - Reply

      People are continually bandying the terms “hard” and “soft” with regard to “Brexit” without defining what they mean. What do you mean? Stella Creasy also said that there was no way that anybody could deduce from the referendum what people voted for yet, in the same breath, boldly interpreted what the electorate voted for in the General Election. People voted for myriad reasons and want different things. I am sick of politicians telling us what we voted for.
      What do you know about the E.U. and how does that knowledge influence your thinking in this debate?

    • Zippi July 6, 2017 at 12:34 am - Reply

      People have been bandying the terms “soft” and “hard,” with regard to “Brexit,” about without defining what they mean. People want different things and voted for many different reasons. What do YOU mean by “hard” and “soft?”
      Interestingly, Stella Creasy said that nobody can know what the public wanted, from the referendum result yet in the same breath made a bold interpretation of the General Election result! I am sick of politicians telling us what we voted for!

  8. Rhiannon Georgina Daniel July 5, 2017 at 1:39 pm - Reply

    Well if that’s true why all the crap with the DUP then?

  9. Neil Bradbury July 5, 2017 at 1:56 pm - Reply

    Usual conspiracy rubbish. Coalition agreement was put to a lib dem special conference, where it was passed overwhelmingly by members. Labour is backing the hard brexit legislation the tories are pushing through. Lib Dem cooperation will be limited to things like landlord charges and mental health. Please do apologise when this article is shown to be horse crap

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 6:26 pm - Reply

      Coalition agreement was thrashed out behind closed doors in March 2010. It may have been put to a special conference later but the outcome was not in doubt.
      Labour is NOT backing any Tory “hard Brexit”. Go and give your head a shake.
      We’ll see what the Lib Dems do. Please do apologise when we find out.

  10. squashydog July 5, 2017 at 3:46 pm - Reply

    LD’s can smell the freshly fruiting “money tree” and have decided to jump on the bandwagon …. “if the DUP can get 1.5bill for their wish list, i imagine Cable and Farron are scribbling their own down frantically ….. sigh

  11. Elaine Cartney July 5, 2017 at 3:58 pm - Reply

    How do you remove a ‘like’ which was made accidentally when finger slipped?!!!

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 6:21 pm - Reply

      Alistair Carmichael wrote it?
      Ah, well of course that makes it perfectly acceptable, considering his spotless reputation.

  12. Pauline Vernon July 5, 2017 at 5:21 pm - Reply

    Although I wouldn’t be so rude as ever to ask you to ‘correct’ anything (everybody being entitled to their own opinion), I apologise unreservedly for not believing that the LibDems could ever be that stupid again. It appears they could, indeed, be that stupid. What I don’t understand is what on earth they’d get in return – anybody selling their soul to the devil would expect at the very least lots of dosh, a seat in the House of Lords and a Blankety-Blank cheque book and pen, wouldn’t they?

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 6:16 pm - Reply

      I don’t get it either, but it was clear to me that they were lining up to do it.
      I certainly accept your apology, even though you weren’t one of the people who took me to task back in April.

    • Zippi July 6, 2017 at 12:41 am - Reply

      One can only sell out once. The £iberal Democrats got into government, for the first time in… a century, nearly (The £iberal bit, anyway)? That, evidently, was worth selling out for. They can’t sell out again and have very little to lose. The Devil will collect, in good time.

  13. Carol Brigham July 5, 2017 at 6:38 pm - Reply

    This was inevitable and made more so as soon as Vince Cable got his seat back. All of those idiots who decided to vote for them will never learn.

  14. Phil Nevard July 5, 2017 at 8:35 pm - Reply

    I’m no libdem fan – but I think this is a bit desperate… all the libdems have said is that if the govt proposes summat they agree with (like funding for the NHS, mental health, housing…) then they would consider voting for it. Labour would surely do the same – at least, I hope they would… labour have often voted with the tories on stuff they agree about – and they will in the future. There’s no story here…

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 11:58 pm - Reply

      No, they’re saying they would consider propping up a weak Tory government and keeping it in office.
      Labour has not often voted with the Tories. Labour agrees with the Tories on very little indeed.

      • Phil Nevard July 6, 2017 at 9:09 am - Reply

        can you point me to a source other than you where they say they are considering “propping up a weak Tory government and keeping it in office”?

        I’m sceptical they have said this – I have read their statements but haven’t found what you are suggesting. It’s possible I have missed something, though – so much appreciated!

        • Mike Sivier July 6, 2017 at 9:58 am - Reply

          Why not just type “Liberal Democrat Tory deal” into your favourite search engine, click for ‘News’ and read the stories that come up?

      • Phil Nevard July 6, 2017 at 10:09 am - Reply

        i did… nothing says what you are claiming… why not link me to the source you are so confident in? is it a secret?

        • Mike Sivier July 6, 2017 at 11:26 am - Reply

          The article is based not only on what the Liberal Democrats are saying but also on their recent history.
          I think your problem may be that you are eager to believe they have honest motives. We have all seen that this is not true.

      • Phil Nevard July 6, 2017 at 11:45 am - Reply

        ahhh – I see.. thing is, in reply to me you wrote: “they’re saying they would consider propping up a weak Tory government and keeping it in office.”

        I’m simply asking where “they” are saying this/who has said this other than you. It really shouldn’t be that difficult to give me the source of your information…. nor am I asking you about the article – but about your reply to me that I have quoted for you above.

        As you seem interested in what you call my “problem” – I despise the libdems – always have, I have no desire to believe honest motives of the libdems. Your assumptions about me are very wide of the mark.

        I have voted labour for the 34yrs I have been eligible to vote. But going off on a hissy when there is no real story lessens the impact when there IS a story… the boy who cried wolf sexing up a non-story is less likely to be heard when he reports on a real one.

        • Mike Sivier July 6, 2017 at 11:55 am - Reply

          ANY vote that supports a Conservative policy is propping up a weak Tory government and keeping it in office.
          A vote AGAINST Conservative policy may defeat that policy, especially if there are Tory rebels who oppose it as well (as seems likely in the votes where Mrs May would want Liberal Democrat support). Defeat enough Tory policies and you can go for a ‘no confidence’ vote.
          So you see, propping up a weak Tory government and keeping it in office is EXACTLY what the Liberal Democrats are saying they are considering.
          You seem an intelligent person so I would be amazed if you had not already considered this. Instead, you have chosen to ignore it and to persistently question my reasoning, which is perfectly clear.
          As you are now resorting to personal attacks against me, this correspondence is now closed.

  15. Fran Cotton July 5, 2017 at 8:41 pm - Reply

    Liberal MPs and councillors have always been Tories.

  16. wildswimmerpete July 5, 2017 at 9:02 pm - Reply

    It should be remembered that it was Vince Cable who flogged the Royal Mail at a fire sale price.

  17. Robert Brown July 5, 2017 at 10:58 pm - Reply

    “I told you this would happen!”

    Did you also predict:
    – yet another Labour loss?
    – Labour not being able to form a government?
    – the DUP being part of government?
    – that Labour would beg the LibDems to go into coalition;

    Therefore the only way to ‘soften the blow of the hard right’ would be for the LibDems in a lose form of coalition.

    • Mike Sivier July 5, 2017 at 11:53 pm - Reply

      No, I didn’t predict any of those things.
      As they have no bearing on this story, I fail to see why you mentioned them.
      False argument to lead us off-topic, I expect.

  18. Kenneth Billis July 6, 2017 at 3:52 am - Reply

    The day before the election a LibDem canvasser knocked on my door and asked me if they could count on my support. I replied that I would be voting Labour as I have done for the last 50 odd years. He then went on to point out that Labour has no chance of winning in Torbay and that a tactical vote for the LibDems might be the thing to do in order to push the Tories out. That is certainly true; for the first time in umpteen years the Tories were unseated in 1997 and we had an excellent MP in Adrian Sanders until 2015.

    I then mentioned how a vote for the LibDems could so easily become a vote for the Tories as it did in 2010. I half expected him to say that that wouldn’t happen again. What he actually said was that the Conservatives were going to win by a big margin so that wouldn’t happen this time. I took that as an admission that a vote for the LibDems was a good as a vote for the Tories and always will be. So this news doesn’t surprise me one bit.

    Just as note: in 2015 Labour’s vote was 4,166. In 2017 it was 9,310.

  19. Aidan July 6, 2017 at 8:18 am - Reply

    Do you have any evidence for any of this? Its generally considered good journalism to back up your assertions

    • Mike Sivier July 6, 2017 at 9:47 am - Reply

      Have you not read the article, then?

  20. laurence293 July 6, 2017 at 11:28 am - Reply

    I’d rather have the LibDems holding the balance of power than the DUP.

  21. Nicola Jane July 7, 2017 at 5:10 pm - Reply

    More fake news from Camp Corbyn. Provide evidence or shut up.

    • Mike Sivier July 7, 2017 at 6:08 pm - Reply

      Coalition Government 2010-2015.

    • Mike Sivier July 7, 2017 at 6:08 pm - Reply

      You do realise that Alistair Campbell is, to the best of my knowledge, the only MP ever to be convicted of making false statements, contrary to s.106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 – about himself?

      That is your paragon of truth?

      Go on, now. Get a grip.

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