Anders Hanson

I suppose it’s hardly surprising that Kerron Cross, the Leader of Labour on Three Rivers Council, has such an issue with the Liberal Democrats. Not only is Three Rivers dominated by the Liberal Democrats, and it has been for over 20 years, but Labour remain in a poor third place.

But despite this I was still surprised by the comments on his blog about Nick Clegg’s appearance on The Politics Show last Sunday. Surprised, because his critique of the programme is based on some pretty feeble criticisms (and some fairly feeble jokes) and surprised also because there appears to have been almost universal approval of his performance on the programme from both Lib Dems and non-Lib Dems alike. Even I am prepared to give praise to an opposition party member where it is due.

I know Kerron thinks he is being funny, but it’s all pretty weak. But as he picks up on some of the usual misconceptions and criticisms of the Liberal Democrats, it’s probably worth looking at some of his comments:

Clegg may want to portray himself as a man of the people, a down to earth guy who runs for trains and shares his offices with the local plumber

Well he does run for trains and he does share his office with the local plumbers (as did Richard Allan before him). So it’s just stating a fact really.

He comes across as the sort of guy who … laughs at Maories when they perform the Haka in front of him

Well seeing maoris perform may be a fairly day to day occurrence in South Oxhey, but I can assure him that seeing them perform at the Cutler’s Hall in Sheffield is quite an unusual event and therefore is going to provoke a certain amount of amusement even if Nick also found it very interesting.

mysteriously takes off his tie when meeting people at his local church…only to put it back on again to go home and meet the family. What an odd man.

The words I am looking for are “continuity error”. Blame the BBC.

He is followed by some female Lib Dem prospective MEP candidate … that I have never heard of.

Don’t worry. As Linda Jack is standing to be your MEP, and is also very good, you soon will do!

(all the big hitters turning out, you note!)

Yes, and all picked by the BBC. Note - “picked by the BBC” and not Nick Clegg.

We have Andy Meyer. Come on, Andy Meyer, you must have heard of him? He runs a blog and everything…oh, OK,

Yes, probably as well known as those other well known bloggers like … Kerron Cross. Perhaps that is why the BBC picked him.

all you need to know is that he certainly, most definitely, wears a tie. And it is a gold and yellow tie. Oh yes, that is how much of a Lib Dem supporter he is.

OK, I’m with you on this one. If there is anything that makes me start to worry about a Liberal Democrat it is when they insist on wearing Liberal Democrat ties or even worse Liberal Democrat sweatshirts or bright yellow jackets.

And in between all those contributions, the piece de resistance. Former Head of Media for the Lib Dems, Mark Littlewood (9 mins 23 secs in). Asked how he would make the Lib Dems more credible, he offers a 3 point solution…

And as most Lib Dems know. You don’t bother listening to Mark Littlewood’s advice on anything anymore.

The Lib Dems are a parochial opportunistic little party, whose policies are decided by a handful of activists.

Well that’s democracy for you. It’s a real bugger isn’t it. But you must remind me how being concerned about Iraq and being pro-European makes the Liberal Democrats parochial.

This also explains why they have very few policies at all.

Yes you’re absolutely right. 23 policy papers, 43 mini-manifestos, 11 consultation papers, 26 policy briefings, the general election manifesto itself and the various policies of the Scottish, Welsh and London Lib Dems, and of all the council groups too, does definitely sound like only a “few policies” to me. Perhaps we need a few more.

At the next election everyone (including the Lib Dems themselves) fully expect to lose seats to the Tories

But they wouldn’t if they had seen the party’s own internal reviews of key parliamentary seats. But don’t worry Kerron the Lib Dems will pick up plenty of seats from Labour instead, in places like Watford perhaps?