Assuming you are referring to the current kerfuffle in the UK Lib Dem
party, then what the controversy is about - leaving aside the personal
problems of the party's leader who has just resigned - is just what
the direction and policies of the party should be. Traditionally,
voters perceived the Lib Dems as standing between the Labour Party on
the left, and the Conservative (Tory) party on the right. But ever
since Labour (or New Labour as it is now known) moved on to centre
ground, the Lib Dems have been in an ambiguous position, since many of
their policies (especially their opposition to the Iraq War, and their
advocacy of higher taxation) have tended to be to the left of New
Labour. And now with the Tories, under David Cameron, also moving to
the centre, the Lib Dems are in danger of becoming very isolated
indeed. So one wing of the Lib Dems now wants, also, to move more to
the centre; though that will make that ground extremely crowded. Until
the current leadership contest is resolved, and a new set of policies
(if any) is developed, I don't think it is possible to form an opinion
on the "validity" or of the Lib Dem party. |
