Lib Dems punished by voters

Epolitix – Fri, May 6, 2011

The Liberal Democrats have suffered heavy losses in English council elections in a bad night for Nick Clegg.

Voters appear to have deserted the the party in large numbers over its decision to enter coalition with the Conservatives and it has lost control of Hull, Stockport and Bristol.

The Lib Dems have also lost 10 seats in Manchester and 11 in Liverpool including Lord Mike Storey, a former leader of the Lib Dem group in the city, who has lost his seat to 18-year-old Labour candidate.

The Lib Dems have also been overtaken by Labour as the largest party in Sheffield.

Speaking on the BBC last night Simon Hughes said Clegg's unpopularity in Sheffield, the city he represents in Parliament, would have contributed to the Lib Dems losing the council.

"Any anti-Nick view will be exemplified most in Sheffield,” he said.“Nick has become the issue in Sheffield."

The comments were particularly damning as party leaders are usually an asset in local contests rather than a hindrance.

Hughes, the Lib Dem deputy leader, said his party would lose in the north of England if they were perceived to be like the Conservatives. He said voters in the region wanted the party to be a “radical, bluntly left of centre” alternative to the Tories.

Lib Dem president Tim Farron admitted it had been a“very unpleasant night” for the party and said local councillors were “being dealt a blow because of the national situation”.

And the Lib Dem Scottish secretary Michael Moore said the party knew all along entering into coalition with the Conservatives would be a “tough gig”.

But despite the losses the former chief executive of the Lib Dems, Lord Rennard, said the party was doing well in the south of England. “We're holding and winning on the south coast” he said.

The results for southern cities such as Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Eastleigh are expected later today.

Nick Clegg Picture - timeshighereducation.co.uk

Inilah Politik di UK

Beginilah berpolitik di Negara Inggeris. Politik bukan untuk terus berkuasa dan unggul selama-lamanya memerintah. Tetapi dengan sikap rakyatnya matang telah mengajar parti-parti politik supaya berpijak dibumi yang nyata.

Tujuan politik adalah untuk:

• Memerintah negara
• Mengurus-tadbir negara
• Menjaga kebajikan rakyat
• Memastikan undang-undang dilaksanakan
• Ahli politik berkhidmat untuk rakyatnya dan kawasannya
• Meningkat produktiviti ekonomi
• Menjamin kesejahteraan rakyat dan Negara
• Dan sebagainya

Namun disebalik itu, Mereka yang memerintah bukannya menjadi tuan-tuan yang mesti disanjung sedangkan mereka sendiri pun digajikan hasil kutipan duit-duit rakyat jelata.

Mereka juga sedar bahawa mereka perlu berkhidmat kepada rakyat dan mereka akan pastikan semua kehendak dan keperluan rakyatnya terjamin dan terjaga. Inilah yang dikatakan berpolitik untuk kebajikan rakyat jelata.

abuzorief @ Sheffield
6/5/2011, friday