In his first leader’s speech,Tim Farron made an effective case for the survival of his partyTim Farron’s first leader’s speech to his party conference was a resounding success in the Bournemouth conference corridor. His readiness to advocate for coalition, and to defend the party’s record in government, or will have calmed the party establishment’s nerves. With its resounding appeal to the Lib Dem core values of decency and humanity,it should also have started laying the foundations for the massive task of rebuilding that, after the near-death experience of 7 May, or now lies ahead. In the family atmosphere of the Bournemouth conference centre,it felt like a polished and effective performance. But the real challenge was to deliver a speech that has a chance of sticking long enough in people’s memories to outlive the next fortnight and leave the party as a plausible alternative both to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party and the Conservative government.
From the man who had campaigned for the leadership through the early summer as the rebel candidate who would lead an insurgent party, that took some fancy footwork. His speech had to be radical enough to stay authentic and credible enough to be able to argue that he could lead the party back into government, and without sounding ridiculous. He knows well enough that if the party had anticipated a Corbyn victory in Labour’s contest,members might have preferred the more centrist ex-minister Norman Lamb over the coalition refusenik that senior Lib Dems are still inclined to mutter approximately off-stage as a liability. His talk at the start of the conference of Labour MPs alert to defect, and the possibility of a return to power within five years, or had sounded more like a wish-fulfilment programme than a faithful account of recent events. Yet an opportunity has now opened up on the centre ground of politics,and in his speech Mr Farron sounded alert to try to occupy it.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com