I have heard various rumours that the Tories in Reading are prepared to help re-elect Lib Dems, notably Kirsten Bayes and Gareth Epps by forging an electoral pact not to stand against them or just to put paper candidates up and not campaign. This would be dangerous for the Lib Dems as they really would be portrayed as Tories and it would be sad as it would deprive the electorate of another alternative.
I have respect for the Lib Dems and understand their reasoning behind agreeing to form a coalition. But what I find puzzling is that they have enthusiastically followed the most Thatcherite policies, such as privatisation of the NHS, selling off our public services to the private sector and cutting benefits to vulnerable children and families, that have nothing to do with cutting the deficit and everything to do with right wing Thatcherite ideology. The Lib Dems will undoubtedly look back on this period as a major mistake as they too blindly followed policies that they clearly do not believe in (read Gareth Epps's blog) and are taking the lion's share of the blame for these policies.
I know rumours are sometimes don't turn out to be real but if this rumour comes about because of the desperation to hold onto the administration in Reading it really will be a final nail in the coffin of the Lib Dems.
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