Rotherham & Barnsley Liberal Democrats

Whatever difficulties the Coalition government may face, the Liberal Democrats still remain the only home for progressive and social democrats says Diana

As Liberal Democrats meet in Liverpool for the party's Annual Conference, Diana gives her own take on the current political situation in an article for the Yorkshire Post:

This weekend Liberal Democrats from across the country will be packing up their bags to head for Liverpool for the party's annual conference.

It should be a celebration following an astounding performance by Nick Clegg in the General Election debates that at times promised a Liberal Democrat landslide and which, despite the final results perhaps not living up to expectations, was far from the wipe out predicted by some prophets of doom in the longer term run up to voting.

Then of course came the real test as the Liberal Democrats entered the coalition government. Depending on your point of view it was either the icing on the cake or a poisoned chalice. For me seeing a Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister taking PAM was something really so special that I still have to pinch myself, just as I have to watch myself when speaking publicly now we are 'the Government'.

However, it is perhaps right that the party heads northwards for this year's conference. The Labour leaning press imagines there has been or will be a total collapse of our support in those Labour cities where we have carefully garnered support and, subsequently, power over the last years. Yet whilst there may be some who are disappointed, my sense is that the jury is still out and there remains a huge sense of goodwill towards the coalition. Generally, people seem relieved by the calmer political climate and the spectacle of politicians trying to work together for the benefit of the country.

Of course, we don't yet know where the heralded cuts will actually fall and much will depend on the successful linkage to real reform. What is sure is that any Labour government would have had to cut too and my sense is that most people would rather see two parties involved in making those choices than one alone. There has been more than the normal lip-service attempt to consult so that if cuts have to be made and if they are shown to have been made in an inclusive, fair and transparent way that may help with acceptance. Of course, it will not stop the pain that may fall on many individuals in terms of lost jobs or services, but the test will be to see if in a few years time things have changed both individually and societal. The real test will be if our economy and lifestyles are healthier and greener and the burden of debt has been lifted from future generations.

What I find irritating about those commentators who talk about a Lib Dem stampede to Labour is their collective amnesia. Perhaps I am more aware of it than most as a Liberal Democrat who came to the party via a family of Labour supporters (indeed my mother was a Labour Councillor) and then subsequently from the SDP. I find on analysis that the reasons I made the journey I did and my consequent comfort with my party is no different today than when I first excitedly joined the SDP in the late 1980s. Labour out of power, and even more so during thirteen long years in power, has not made the grade and in fact was a huge disappointment on many core issues. Just let's recall, under Labour after all, the gap between rich and poor has widened, the tax loop holes and bonuses culture was shameful, education is still dogged by elitism, our health service is top heavy with administration, the opportunity to become more European was missed and internationally we are marked out as the perpetrators of an illegal war. Add to this we are up to ears in debt!

Labour also oversaw an incredible over centralisation of both government and resources in the south-east of England. London's Cross rail project is just one example of where Labour's focus on an economic agenda for the south-east came at the detriment to the rest of the country and another reason why I'm glad my party is coming north.

The Coalition Agreement contained nothing that I found unacceptable, even surprisingly on Europe which remains a key issue for me. The Agreement is pragmatic on Europe which frankly fits the current mood and the out and out 'euro sceptics' have been sidelined. On justice, if this government rights the wrong done to Equitable Life policyholders across Europe after a decade of miscegenation then it will have displayed its commitment to fairness. This will be a good test for the Coalition, where the Treasury will need to be held off in the interests of justice.

For those that came to the Liberal Democrats from a progressive social democrat route there is much to be proud of and the future of British politics remains hugely exciting. Whichever Millerand brother eventually leads the Labour party, he will have a huge job, over the next five years, in wresting away the progressive agenda from a Liberal Democrat party becoming increasingly at ease with the responsibility of government.