Liberal Democrats: Winning Here? Not After This Week.

An expulsion, a defection, and an empty statement leaves the Liberal Democrats weaker than ever, and remains a indictment on their ability to continue as a real alternative.

Writes Jayson Ball for the Independent

The Liberal Democrats have been the subject of another harsh blow this week as they faced damning evidence that some members of the Party sought to utilise the Lords Committee into fiscal management to further their own political agenda and when it was clear that there was no wrongdoing, the Duke of Abercorn pleaded to have aspects changed to make the final report seem harsher on the Government.

To some then, it may seem like no surprise that today the Liberal Democrats expelled a member of their Parliamentary Party, however it was not the Duke of Abercorn but the Marquess of Salisbury that was removed from the Party; despite his efforts to prevent twisting of facts and figures in his handing down of the objective final report on economic matters.

The Prime Minister NicolasBroaddus stated plainly that he “found it astonishing really” and “choosing to expel the member who showed ethical integrity as a committee member instead of the Lord that has dragged them through this whole press disaster is just unthinkable.” Offering a grave warning to voters that the Liberal Democrats cared about “covering for the lies and mistakes of their friends matters more than integrity.”

Social Liberal Leader and Deputy Prime Minister SpectactularSalad offered some stern words that “Erudite's departure represents the last shred of integrity leaving their decrepit joke of a party. Going after whistleblowers is the behaviour of tyrants, not Liberals.”

Leader of the Opposition Frost_Walker2017, candidly stated "whistleblowing is to be encouraged where people feel they have no other voice." Reflecting on Labour's past reputation as "historically be[ing] considered leaky" they offered perhaps a frank endorsement of EruditeFellow's actions with the comment that "where policy is being ramraided through, or is morally incorrect (though of course morals vary from person to person) and the whistleblower has no other avenue to take it to within the party apparatus, or even the system apparatus if it's unrelated to political parties, they should be allowed to speak out." Continuing onto a final assessment that "the comments themselves, while I do hold my former colleague in high regard they were ridiculous comments to make about a multilateral committee that already faced government boycotts over its dubious nature of impartial examination, and while I can't say I've read the final report yet it vindicates concerns that the Lords Committees are being used as a stick with which to beat the government."

With a wide range of voices coming out against the actions of the Liberal Democrat executive, and lacklustre statement that glossed over the accusations which were made in the Press; it seems that the Party is more concerned with the reputation of the House of Lords than their own. A fall from grace for a Party that was in Government not too long ago.

There had been much hope by political pundits for a return to the spotlight by the Liberal Democrats after their work with the Conservatives on offering a clear opposing vision to the dominance of Solidarity and Labour in the form of the Shadow Budget. However, it seems that following this week, the expulsions and defections will continue to increase as the Party struggles to carve out a vision and space for themselves.

With the election called for next month, there are only a few more weeks for all parties in and out of Parliament to carve out their response to what has been a term all about leftist policy in action, the cost of living crisis, and the looming global recession.