Clegg left with nothing to lose

The reason for such positivity is not hard to fathom. The Sheffield Hallam MP’s position as leader has seldom been stronger, especially given the absence of a credible alternative – a fact underlined by Vince Cable’s petty and ill-advised swipe at the party’s coalition partners earlier this week.

More crucially, while their marriage with David Cameron’s Conservatives may be increasingly loveless, in comparison to the alternative it is unquestionably appealing. After decades of being stranded in the wilderness, the Lib Dems remain the unlikely powerbrokers of British politics.

With Ed Miliband continuing to operate in a policy vacuum and the Conservatives failing to connect to sufficient voters to feel confident of an overall majority in 2015, the party occupies an enviable position. As its president Tim Farron noted earlier this week, they could “get 25 per cent of the vote and be out of power or 12 per cent and be in power”.

There is no doubt that Mr Clegg deserves credit for bringing a sense of stability to the country over the last three years and for pushing through measures such as the cutting of income tax thresholds at a time when so many face economic hardship, something David Cameron had said could not be done.

Yet it is disingenuous of Nick Clegg to claim credit for the slowly-emerging recovery when his party would never have sanctioned the cuts that have helped to rebalance the economy – particularly the much-needed welfare reform spearheaded by Iain Duncan Smith – if they had spent the last three years governing alone.

There is also an underlying absurdity about a situation in which a party that is haemorrhaging supporters and looks destined to finish a distant third in the polls still harbours genuine hope of wielding influence in government. Especially when that party has dismally failed to mount a credible argument for the cornerstone policy of its pre-election manifesto pledge – namely the delivery of electoral reform.

Even so, Nick Clegg is right to feel confident. He knows that there is nothing to lose. It is now up to David Cameron to show that while power-sharing may not have been the disaster many predicted, an outright victory by his party would allow Britain to build on the recovery that Tory-led policies have started.

A warning sign

IN case David Cameron had any doubt as to the corrosive effect of coalition, he need only glance at the latest Tory membership figures.

Finally released after concerted pressure, it was surely no accident that they were made public on the day that most people’s attention was firmly fixed on Nick Clegg’s conference speech.

It is little wonder that CCHQ wanted to keep them under wraps. Down from 253,000 during David Cameron’s successfully-fought 2005 leadership contest to just 134,000, they make clear the inherent danger of being dragged to the centre-ground.

For many traditional Conservative supporters, too many of the policies championed by the Tory-led coalition are at odds with the party’s long-held values.

The stance on gay marriage has sparked an exodus of members, while indecision over Europe helps explain why Ukip 
has seen its own membership soar to 
around 40,000.

The sense that there is a privileged, out-of-touch clique operating at the heart of government has also served to alienate those grass roots supporters who are so vital if David Cameron is to secure victory at the next General Election.

It is why the onus must now be on reconnecting with the party faithful – and luring lapsed members back into the fold – over the next 18 months.

To do so will mean listening to the views of those who have a natural affinity to the party and promising a renewed commitment to true Tory values should David Cameron succeed in returning to Downing Street with an outright majority.

Use it or lose it

IN a city with a worldwide reputation for chocolate production, the battle is on to save another of York’s proud traditions – the butcher’s shop.

Having once boasted some 25 independent meat sellers, all plying their trade from the twisting, narrow lanes of the Shambles, now just two remain within the city walls.

It is why the long-running Meat Crusade campaign is targeting this year’s York Food Festival in a bid to remind shoppers of the many advantages of using a local butcher.

In light of the recent horsemeat scandal, the question of where our 
meat comes from has 
never been more pertinent. Yet too often we express concern for the steady disappearance of trusted, small retailers, only to head to the nearest supermarket instead.

If we are to hold on to 
such traditional businesses then we simply have to make a conscious effort to use them more – or risk losing forever the quality, expertise and good service they offer.