Checkmate becomes Stalemate

Previously, government politics has been assumed the same level as a game: not one of particular strategy, but a game of chance and foul-play against other party leaders. It would appear that following last Thursday’s election results, such an analogy holds firm and true. In a somewhat unprecedented move, Nick Clegg has spoken out against the Health Reform to the NHS that has been proposed by officials and had had backing of the Deputy Prime Minister until this week. The timing is rather too convenient to be attributed to coincidence. A stung Clegg is taking a stand in a bid to remind the Conservative coalition that its power is dependent, no matter how slight, on his backing. To play on the game analogy, stalemate.

When interviewed over the weekend, all questions towards the Lib Dem party pivoted on the huge losses signified by the local elections. Many people are now aware that the political group had its support essentially wiped out in Scotland and there were heavy losses across the majority of the country. Of course, the main hit was the rejection of the AV referendum: a change that Clegg had been championing for some time now.

Consequently, whilst gains were made by Labour in the North and the Conservatives held the swing of the previous national election, the Lib Dems have been considerably damaged. It should come as no surprise: in order to hang on to the coattails of power, they have formed a coalition that little reflects the promises of 2010 and so just as the party started to regain its previous prominence, faith in change has been wiped.

“Overall they got their lowest share of votes in three decades” claimed ‘The Guardian’ statistics. It has been almost a century since the predecessor of the current party held sway: the rise of Labour saw a much more approachable and thorough mode of socialism, that was not so centre ground. Being ‘stuck in the middle’ of the emergent political climate of the Conservatives and Labour made playing games quite a necessary move. For all the two large parties of the twentieth century would attack each other, the Liberals and subsequent Lib Dems would present themselves as the alternative, the balance, the measured view and pointed to any form of extremity to gain favourable opinion. Indeed it is probable that if AV had been in force for the last election, Liberal Democrats would now be in power.

However, in order to hold a prominent position, the Lib-Dems have taken U-Turns on a number of their pledges just twelve months ago. This is only to be expected: playing game earns reputation and power. Therefore, Clegg calculated stronger gains as a consequence. Unfortunately, the number of accessions granted to the Conservatives has seen negative growth of support.

Clegg’s claim to prevent the passing of the NHS Bill then may in part be founded on principle and there can be no doubt that there were some issues he had wanted to be addressed. What goes against such an argument in solid fact is that the Deputy PM has already signed the White Paper agreeing to the reform and the majority of his party had backed him. The BBC’s Deputy Political Editor, James Landale, suggests that “underlying it all is an identity crisis that these elections have forced on the Lib Dems”. That is to say that now the party has figures noting their overwhelming loss, they have to address the stem of the issue and return to Liberal politics. 

Calculated or adolescent the move may be, but Clegg pledges to now stay true to his claim. It certainly appears a rash and rather selfish move: since you’re making gains in one area, I am going to demonstrate how much power I have. Stalemate.

In this regard, whilst the Lib-Dem leader says that “where we achieve Liberal Democrat policies in government, we've got to tell people about it,” this quote should in itself not be taken as a sign of a stand, but more an awareness that the Liberal-Democrats have lost touch with their electorate and are now going to take advantage of all mediums possible in order to solidify and restart. The idea is that the people are key and so we shall highlight success and minimise failure. Once more, the constituency are treated without respect of knowledge that they deserve.

Whilst a Labour motion to prevent the bill continuing was today revoked (09/05/11), the movement highlighted the growing divide in the coalition government. If a general election was to be held and another coalition formed, the Lib Dems would again have scope to seek out a new route of choice. But rising unpopularity ensures that this government need remain in power until there has been a stopper put to the flailing support of party members and supporters alike. Declaration of vote timing is much more crucial and a matter of winning the public than previously, for it can enable a frame picture against other parties that solidifies position. Reforms that go wrong could ruin reputations.

“We've got to show people where we are a moderating voice on the Conservatives. We need to stand up for our values and say that loud and clear.”  A very noble sentiment indeed, but since it has taken twelve months for this idea to take a hold of the coalition minority party, political sway has again become a case of playing on the power and reputation that one can sacrifice in order to hopefully see gain in support. It may be said that the value of any political party is determined by how far it is able to undermine the others. Only when this is achieved in majority can there be an end to stalemate. Checkmate.