Dear Brian Paddick,
Decision time for the Lib Dems has arrived a little earlier than expected. There are already a few predictions floating around Westminster as to whether the Lib Dems would prefer a Conservative or Labour coalition at the next general election. Now, thanks to Ken Leavingsoon’s desperate and frail campaign, you are being tempted into a coalition with Labour over the mayoral votes.
So what are you going to do? To my mind, this is very straightforward. Nick Clegg and yourself have been battling to turn Lib Dem fortunes around after a miserable 2007. You have both tried to set the agenda and be seen as a genuine alternative to the two main parties. If you show even the slightest hint of wanting to join forces with Ken Leavingsoon (who, let’s not forget, is running a thoroughly incompetent office and is mired in charges of maladministration) then every ounce of independence and claims to being an alternative at the ballot box will be thrown away. Your second preference votes will obviously be very important, but to join with Ken will undermine everything you and Nick Clegg have worked for and will portray you as a weak and scheming candidate who has given up hope of making an impact on May 1st.
It’s your choice - and it’s your loss if you think Ken Leavingsoon is the right man for the Lib Dems.
Yours sincerely,
A.Tory
5 responses so far ↓
Candid // April 7, 2008 at 3:06 pm
The Labour cronies trying to make Boris sound like a serious candidate might actually help good old Boris - surely they should be highlight his buffoon side and making him appeal less to the voters.
But we can’t expect rational decisions from a rather panicked Labour party.
Letters From A Tory // April 7, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Labour’s £5 ‘Boris swear box’ really has left them looking extremely stupid, and I agree that all this stinks of a party clutching at straws. Since when has Labour tried to align themselves with every party apart from the Conservatives?!?!
jonnybgoode // April 7, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Is this Ken’s “divide and rule/rainbow coalition” in action? There is nothing that will put voters off more than the appearance of two candidates trying to stitch up the race.
Letters From A Tory // April 7, 2008 at 5:26 pm
You’ve raised a very important point. If Paddick coddles up to Ken, he’s going to lose a lot of supporters. We are all awaiting his decision….
asquith // April 7, 2008 at 7:14 pm
As a Lib Dem, I’m completely against any collaboration with Labour. They are not liberals.
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