Lib Dems limit the damage of Hughes statement
By politics.co.uk staff
The Lib Dems have moved to limit the damage of a Commons statement from deputy leader Simon Hughes yesterday in which he suggested the party might lay down amendments to the coalition Budget.
Speaking in the Commons debate on the policies, Mr Hughes said if there were measures to the finance bill “where we can improve fairness, and make for a fairer Britain, then we will come forward with amendments to do that because that is where we make the difference”.
In the context of the statement it appeared to observers as if ‘we’ referred to the Lib Dems, but Mr Hughes later insisted he had been referring to the coalition government as a whole.
Nevertheless, Labour leadership hopeful Ed Miliband was quick to hit the airwaves saying cracks had started to show in the coalition.
Today, the Lib Dems put out a statement insisting the comments referred to “a hypothetical situation”.
A spokesman said: “Simon Hughes made it clear in his speech that there would be no unpicking of the coalition deal.
“His speech was about how both parties in the coalition would continue to do everything they could to ensure fairness.
“He was referring to a hypothetical situation. Given that fairness has been built into the Budget there are no plans to lay any amendments.”
Mr Hughes said he was happy to clarify his statement.
“If there are other ways of improving fairness in the future, compatible with the coalition agreement, these should never be ruled out. But of course there are not any plans to change things now,” he said.
Many commentators had noted the comments not so much for their rebelliousness, but for the fact the Lib Dem deputy leader appeared to be pushing towards the party having a more distinct identity while remaining loyal to the coalition.
But with Labour desperately trying to demonstrate divisions between the Tories and the Lib Dems, party officials are wary of any distinction between the two parties.
Many Lib Dem backbenchers are thought to be uncomfortable with George Osborne’s Budget, which some describe as Thatcherite. The party’s focus on opposing a VAT rise in some parts of its campaign has also damaged it now that a 2.5% rise figured in the Budget.
