Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has defended Kirsty Williams for joining the Labour-run Welsh Government. They say Farron will push on with his appeal to New Labour’s early voters, ramping up praise of some achievements of the Blair government.
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Mr Farron pointedly dismissed such talk as a “parlour” discussion of no interest to voters after Mr Clegg suggested a realignment of the centre-left, and Lord Ashdown called for a single pro-EU candidate to fight the Tories in the looming Witney by-election caused by David Cameron standing down as an MP.
In his keynote speech at the Lib Dem party conference in Brighton, Farron also warned that businesses were “funding their own funeral” by backing the Conservatives in the aftermath of the UK’s Brexit vote.
Describing the European Union referendum result as being like a “bereavement”, Mr Farron said that a meeting with Leave voters made him realise that then chancellor George Osborne’s warning of a harsh Budget if the country did not choose Remain backfired badly.
And he told activists: “A century ago the Liberals lost touch with their goal and their voters, and Labour took their chance and became Britain’s biggest progressive party. We are the real voice of opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government and the only party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united”.
On Monday at the Lib Dems’ unofficial glee club, members sang: “Tony Blair can f*** off and die” to the tune of American Pie.
Mr Farron said he was not a Blairite, citing his opposition to the Iraq War, compulsory ID cards, 90-day detention, and deregulation of the banks.
The Liberal Democrats were reduced to just eight lawmakers in the House of Commons in last year’s election.
Both lovely people, I’m sure.
“Actually, the European Union is effectively a protectionist club that has shut itself off from numerous emerging parts of the world and I want Britain to be engaged on global basis – that is real internationalist”.
“I think at that point, particularly if investors start taking fright, and it starts dawning on people that the Government does not have a road map, I think that then the public appetite for other parties to provide an alternative will grow”.
“Whilst we’ve not changed our view that the referendum result is one we should respect, neither have we changed our view that being in Europe is undoubtedly still the best thing for the Liberal Democrats”.
Baroness Brinton agreed the pledge to raises taxes for the NHS was “bold” but added: “We are absolutely clear that the NHS is on its knees and needs investment”. He told the Observer his decision was because “there were a couple of amendments that were about the protection of essentially religious minorities, conscience protections and I kind of voted for those”.
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The leader was previously asked if he believes gay sex is a sin during a BBC interview – and refused to directly answer the question three times.
