Kennedy dismisses coalition talk
Charles Kennedy has dismissed the idea of forming a coalition with the Conservatives – insisting the Liberal Democrats can make it on their own.
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable earlier this week suggested that if Labour loses its overall majority at the next election, a minority government or coalition between his party and the Tories could be an option.
But in an interview with The Times at the start of the party’s annual conference in Blackpool, Mr Kennedy said the key was focusing on getting into power themselves.
“I am not interested in coalitions. I am not interested in the why-wherefore, irrespective of whoever is leading the other political parties. I am in the business of getting the Liberal Democrats in the driving seat,” he said.
He acknowledged that many younger members of the party were getting tired of standing on the sidelines, but insisted compromising the Lib Dems’ independence was not an option.
“I continue to have as an absolute, fundamental gut conviction – no ifs, no buts, no maybes: we do best when we are independent and we will conduct ourselves through this parliament and beyond the next election on an independent basis,” he said.
Mr Kennedy is instead focusing on sending a clearer message of what the Liberal Democrats stand for. This, he said, was vital if a party was to know where it was going in the midst of turbulent events such as the London terror attacks.
“Five months since the election, what has dominated the agenda? A terrible event in the United States, terrible terrorist attacks in London, two ‘no’ votes in European referendums. What of that appeared in anybody’s manifesto? Next to none,” he told the newspaper.
As a result, “you have got to be clear and got to be firm about the principles and the philosophy that is driving you, so whatever set of events come about, you know your mind and you know the direction you want to go”.
That said, this year’s conference is not going to see a radical shift in policy – Mr Kennedy simply wants to use the opportunity of a divided Tory party and debate about Tony Blair’s future to project the Lib Dems as the party of the future.
“Part of the message is – rest assured folks, this is not about tearing up everything you have believed in. It is about having a sensible look about where we are, and in four to five years’ time,” he said.
