Hugo Rifkind Hugo Rifkind

No, honestly, I want to know: why haven’t the Lib Dems quit

issue 21 July 2012

Why would you be a Lib Dem? That’s a rhetorical question, obviously, because I think we all know that the bulk of well-meaning, ineffectual perverts actually read the New Statesman. But still, imagine you were one. What’s it all for? And, more to the point, why are you still in government?

I keep asking this question of people cleverer than me, and they keep chuckling, as though I’m making a gag. But I’m serious. Why are the coalition’s junior partners still in there? Even the numbers of people prepared to have weird sex with them must be dropping on a daily basis. Why do they keep turning up for work?

Argument one: the Lib Dems are actually achieving plenty, just quietly.

Come off it. No they aren’t. There was the pupil premium, which I’ll have to ­Google one of these days, and I’m aware there has been some terribly significant wibbling with pensions.

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