Letter from Westminster 13 Oct 2008
October 13, 2008 12:00 AM
I arrived for my first week back at Westminster after weeks when it seemed the financial world was falling apart. I thought back to the last few days of my inter-railing trip in September 1992. On arrival in Lyon one morning I was told by the currency kiosk lady that the pound had nose-dived. Suddenly my budget for the remainder of the holiday looked shot to pieces. Back home the day was soon dubbed "Black Wednesday" and the illusion of Conservative Party competence in economics was shattered.
From 1992 through to 2007 the Tories never looked like serious contenders for high office.
In the last year the game had rather changed. Gordon Brown had been a respected "iron" Chancellor. As Prime Minister, I can only quote my brilliant colleague Vince Cable, "his reputation has gone from that of Stalin to Mr Bean…" as the new PM gave an impression of dithering over control of events. I wonder if the current financial crisis will be judged by history to be another political game changer.
At the first Prime Minister's question time of autumn term the atmosphere had completely changed from the summer. Back in July Brown's performances were so miserable I was almost sorry for him. This Wednesday he actually smiled! Cameron had to abandon his normal sneering schoolboy bully mode and attempt some serious questions. In fact he now seems to be desperately trying to reposition the Tories yet again, this time as the friends of economic regulation and even intervention in the boardroom.
PMQs was followed by the Chancellor's statement on the financial situation. Here, it was obvious that George Osborne was the third rate performer. He has been consistently out-classed by the Lib Dem Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable. I recall listening to Vince in debates on the economy two years ago. When he warned about the unsustainable bubble of credit in the economy he was derided as a prophet of doom. Now he's the man who knows what he's talking about, as compared to the Tories' man who's never even had a proper job.
I'm not saying that Brown's handling of the situation has saved his bacon.
But it should mean that the easy ride for the policy lite Tories is over and the Lib Dems can be shown to have a serious economic message right at the heart of political debate.
I came back from Westminster a little earlier than normal so I could spend Thursday helping in the St George West by election for a seat on Bristol City Council. I'd spent much of the last six weeks or so knocking on doors and delivering leaflets. It had been a great campaign with Lib Dem members from all over the city making a contribution. On polling day the sun shone and the voters came out. We'd come third in the ward in 2007.
Just before midnight the result was announced in the Council House. Tony Potter becomes the 32nd Lib Dem member of the Council as he defeated
Labour and the Tories plunged to a poor third place. The Lib Dems
obtained 923 votes, Labour were on 816 and the Tories received 509. The balance on the Council is now Lib Dems 32, Labour 24, Tories 13 and Green 1. So we are still just short of a majority but things look promising for next year's elections across the city.
Earlier in the week in Westminster I joined a short debate on the "regional spatial strategy" for the south west. This is the government's imposition of new housing quotas on each local authority. The debate was introduced by my colleague Steve Webb, concerned about the 30,000 new houses that are proposed for South Gloucestershire. I pointed out that this loss of the green belt has implications for Bristol too. We already have traffic gridlock in the northern fringe. New housing all around the city will lead to traffic chaos.
In Bristol I spoke to a group of students at the Post 16 centre at Redland Green School and also to the entire 6th form at Clifton College. I mentioned that both audiences convinced me that I was right to keep supporting lowering the voting age to 16. I've tabled a Commons motion praising Jersey for doing that in advance of its elections for the island's Parliament on 15th October. This led to an interview on BBC Jersey's breakfast show when I was rather bleary eyed after our by election triumph!
Also in Bristol I met with Young and Free, a charity setting up social networks for people with cerebral palsy. I opened the new Immigration Advisory Service's offices in Old Market and attended an Eid event in Easton to mark the end of Ramadan. I also met with some people trying to develop property on Stokes Croft, an area that badly needs an economic lift. It could so easily be a new cultural and social enterprise quarter for Bristol.
So I'm off back to Westminster on the morning that the government nationalised a couple of banks. Who would have thought it?
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