Tories and Lib Dems respond to coalition question

We asked if our local parties, who appear to dislike each other intensely, would be prepared to work together if the council was hung after the May elections and if we were likely to see a picture of Tory Leader Lesley Clarke shaking hands with the Lib Dems Steve Guy.

Both parties took up the challenge to attempt to answer the coalition questions. Their responses are below:

1) The Tory story:

SO, there is speculation about the possibility of Conservatives working with Lib Dems in Wycombe after the May Council elections. I am sure many people will look at the way this is working at a national level and draw their own conclusions as to whether this has suited the Liberal Democrats or not.

I think most commentators think the Lib Dems are finding coalition government hard, and opinion polls tell us its support is at an all time low.

The Conservative Party has a long tradition of working with other parties in the national interest – just think of Winston Churchill during the Second World War.

All Conservative councillors are more than happy to work with anyone who shares their view for Wycombe and general policy direction. Would the Lib Dems and Conservative councillors find enough common ground to work on?

It’s clear the Lib Dems have consistently taken a populist approach to local issues whilst their track record in power a few years ago would suggest that experience and ability, rather than popularity, is necessary for government.

There’s a whisper the Lib Dems are intending to use County Council issues, such as changes to youth service provision in east Wycombe, to confuse voters and try to smear the Conservatives generally. The election would have to be fought fairly and openly if trust is to be built between potential coalition partners. We know politics is ever changing, and politicians must adapt to circumstances as they find them.

It is clear the national party leaders have found a way to work together for the good of the country and there is no reason why this would not be the same elsewhere.

Jonathan Palmer-Garrett, Chairman, Wycombe Conservative Association

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2) The Guy from the Lib Dems:

COALITION politics is not so common in the UK Parliament, although it’s very common in councils up and down the country where coalitions of varying flavours are often formed in order to get things done.

While there are deep, fundamental differences between the beliefs and priorities of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, I support the national coalition government. The nation needs a strong, stable administration to tackle the serious economic problems we face. I believe we’re delivering that, and history will judge we acted responsibly and in the national interest.

The situation that currently exists on Wycombe District Council is completely different. The majority held by the Conservatives (exaggerated by ‘first past the post’ voting) is so large as to be unhealthy. This is admirably illustrated by the current ‘stadium’ furore. Many Conservatives are, rightly, unhappy with the profligate use of public money and broken election promises on protecting the greenbelt and AONB. The trouble is their majority’s so big that at least a third of Tories would have to rebel before the plans could stand any chance of being altered. Such a large majority has led to some local Tories becoming complacent, arrogant and out of touch.

We make no apologies; by the way, for highlighting the fact the main driver for the stadium is the rugby team, and not football. Wycombe Wanderers have a long and proud history in this area, but most fans would admit that Adams Park suits their current needs well enough at the present time.

I’ve tried to encourage my councillors to listen to residents, and in my experience they do this well. Soon, we’ll publish our manifesto for the elections. We’ll set out priorities and I hope that they’ll chime with the priorities of residents.

Turning to your big question, we’re obviously going to work as hard as we can and try to win a majority. But the people of Wycombe will be the arbiters. Should they choose to give no one party a majority, we would be willing to talk to all other parties and independent councillors about forming a stable administration.

But my priorities in any such negotiations would be priorities of local tax payers. I’d want to be a part of the administration, but only if it listened and responded to the people of Wycombe District. For this reason, I find it hard to imagine how we’d be able to work with the Tories’ current leadership of Lesley Clarke and Tony Green who have so completely lost touch with the very people who elected them.

I fear you may be waiting a long time for that photo op!

Steve Guy, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Wycombe District Council