Still More Reasons to Despise Danny Alexander and the Lib Dems November 7, 2011
Posted by Garibaldy in British Politics, Unions.trackback
On November 30th, the UK will witness a massive wave of strikes, the biggest in decades. In case you are unfamiliar with him, Danny Alexander is the Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and sometime “ginger rodent”. He is often wheeled out on UK television to justify whatever egregious piece of anti-people nonsense is in the headlines that involves finance. And so the fact he was on the Andrew Marr show this morning was entirely predictable. What he had to say was slightly less so, but was more proof, as if it were needed, that the Lib Dems are overwhelmingly sham progressives, tories in yellow skirts. Here we go
“The most important people here are not the trade union leaders. They’re the individuals nurses, teachers and civil servants,” he said.
“This week, and over the next couple of weeks, we will be communicating directly to 2.5m public servants across this country to explain to them what it is the government is offering.
“In those people’s hands is the decision about whether or not to go on strike. In those people’s hands is the influence on the unions.”
Asked whether he was, in effect, going over the heads of union leaders, Mr Alexander replied: “I think most of the unions, the moderate unions, want to reach an agreement, but there are some who seem desperate, hell-bent if you like, on strike action.
“What we need to make sure is that the interests of public servants are not set aside in the interests of trade union leaders who want to go on strike.
Ah of course. The evil and unrepresentative trade union leaders holding back the poor workers who want their pay, conditions and pensions slashed. I could swear I’ve heard this sort of thing before. And it was rubbish then, and rubbish now. Just like the idea that Clegg’s Lib Dems were any going to behave any differently in government than they have done. There are two real questions regarding the Lib Dems and the next election. How many seats will they lose? And will their voters move to Labour or the Tories? The outcome of the next election may well depend upon it. Whatever way it goes, let’s hope Alexander is left out of a job anyway.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
In my work place we can’t wait. All out on the 30th and hopefuly a link with Occupy in the city! Biggest protest since ’26. I’m Labour Party over here and organised labour is not happy. This is the start! Whose streets, Our streets! Workers Unite!
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On Friday night in Bath (not the most ruggedly proletarian of English cities), there was a 38 Degrees meeting attended by about 250 people. When I announced from the floor that people should support anti-cuts activity generally, there was a cheer for Occupy Bath, which has just been set up. Someone earlier had demanded a referendum on the NHS; when I suggested that people could vote with their feet on 30 November, when the biggest strike in British history will take place, I got a round of applause. In Bath. In *Bath*.
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How odd. Ballad Of A Thin Man isn’t on that album.
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[…] Still More Reasons to Despise Danny Alexander and the Lib Dems 01:10 Mon Nov 07, 2011 | Garibaldy […]
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Garibaldy
Leaving aside those who voted Lib Dem due to foolishly believing they were a progressive alternative to NL, my own experience of Liberals over a life time is if you scratch just below the surface, there is a reactionary lurking and more often than not with an imperialist bent. Such things rarely change, and this is especially true on economic matters, most Liberals have an extreme hatred for organised labour. After all it was this hatred that led to the modern day Lib Dem party being created in the first place.
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Eh?
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