Don't believe the hype (especially from the NS). Labour are spinning like mad to make us look like a party on the brink of collapse, which is complete and utter bollocks. Did you read what Kennedy actually said?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010 ... tion-views
It's interesting, his choice of words - not critical, but not full of praise either. Like many, he's waiting and seeing. As the Graun has it:
Quote:
In his article Kennedy suggests that he would have preferred to leave the Tories trying to govern as a minority administration, guaranteeing support only on vital economic decisions and in votes of confidence. "But the understandable anxiety among colleagues of an early second election scuppered that option."
Basically, that way lieth ruin, so we must do this. The only difference in the Lib Dem leadership is how optimistic they're being. Paddy, especially, is as awesome as ever:
Quote:
However, Ashdown decided to support the coalition after seeing the agreement, which he called a "masterpiece" filled with 80% Lib Dem policies. "I said 'fuck it'… I am prepared to fight with you even if it is inside the Tory party. I can never resist a fight, and if this is what you are fighting for you better count me in."
There are dissenters, but they are in the extreme minority, and seem to be content to wait and see rather than cut and run to a Labour party which has been more authoritarian in power than Thatcher was. Everyone from Simon Hughes to David Steel is aboard - there was apparently more fuss over the SDP/Liberal merger. This 'Lib Dems in crisis' nonsense taken from today's conference is extremely negative reporting on the part of the Graun etc, seeing the worst in the party's typical democratic process which allows for voices of dissent where other parties would marginalise them.
