For some time I've puzzled as to why the Lib Dems in Cornwall Council are not providing strong opposition. They are clearly an intelligent group of people who, like councillors of all political beliefs, are committed and passionate about their communities and the overall good of Cornwall.
Despite all the changes being made in Cornwall Council, which I regard as positive for Cornwall although I accept that some have a different view, the Lib Dems have restricted themselves to, in effect, saying "we disagree" without proposing alternative courses of action. Twice they have voted against the annual budgets and on both occasions have not tabled alternatives.
I've come to the conclusion that their focus on being negative reflects an overwhelming desire to avoid facing difficult decisions. They appear to have no strategy and are therefore forced into being tactical. They are good at expressing negative views on individual items of policy although generally without proposing alternatives.
They made a 'song and dance' over a tourism tax, even though it was not part of Cornwall Council policy, yet failed until it was dragged out of them to acknowledge that a hotel tax is one of their official policies! As is often the case, they took the line that they do not support their own Party's national policy. Will the real Lib Dems please stand up!
Currently it feels as if the Conservative/Independent administration is like one of those wagon trains you see in Western movies. It has a sense of purpose and direction and although it will suffer a few losses to marauding native North America people (aka Lib Dems) is not being seriously hampered in its strategic objective of reaching its destination.
A focus on tactical issues, without an overarching strategy, does leave you vulnerable to supporting far more than the budget will allow. This suggests why they are, nationally, increasingly seeking to take over Labour's mantle as the high tax Party. It appears that they want to retain the 50% income tax rate for higher earners, charge higher rates on lower incomes and, in the Coalition negotiations, insisted on increasing capital gains tax from 18% to 28% without reinstating any reliefs. This places them firmly as the Party who want to increase the tax burden on the middle class which would harm the international competitive position of the UK to the detriment of all, including those paid the least.
