Peter Hoskin

JET — three letters that spell trouble for the coalition

JEET. That, according to Andrew Grice in the Independent, is the new ‘buzzword’ circling around Libdemville (population: 57 MPs, and a few others). And it stands for the issues that they want to keep mentioning whenever they can: jobs, education, environment and tax. Fair enough. Although it is striking that only one of these issues is unlikely to put them in close combat with the Tories. Both parties of the coalition support free schools and academies, and the Lib Dems are getting their pupil premium too, so education is relatively uncontroversial territory. But as for the others…

Jobs. The conflict here focuses on the role of the state. As George Osborne’s support for the Beecroft proposals shows, he’d rather that employers were left to get on and employ (or unemploy) as they see fit. But that sits uncomfortably with Lib Dems like Vince Cable, who describes Tory calls for greater labour market deregulation as ‘ridiculous,’ in a pugnacious interview with

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in