Kennedy launches attack on Labour and Tories
The Liberal Democrat Party Leader, Charles Kennedy has issued a warning to the Government and the Tory party that they are ‘coming to get them’.
During his speech at the close of the party’s conference in Brighton he argued that voter apathy with his main two rivals presented ‘an unprecedented opportunity’ to make gains in the UK’s political landscape.
The Lib Dems leader used his speech to launch another attack on the Government’s war in Iraq.
He argued that a ‘small clique’ surrounding the Prime Minister was guilty of driving the country into war, disregarding widespread public doubts. He accused the Government of ‘shrouding itself in secrecy’ to ‘act like the office of a president’.
Mr Kennedy commented: ‘This is supposed to be a parliamentary democracy. What we’ve seen is a small clique driving us into a war, disregarding widespread public doubts. That is not acceptable. That’s why we need fundamental constitutional reform.’
Mr Kennedy went on to attack Iain Duncan Smith’s leadership of the Conservative party for being ‘charlatans and chancers’. He accused the Tories of criticising the outcome of the war despite having been supportive of the conflict’s start.
The confident Lib Dem leader claimed that his party was overtaking the Conservatives, claiming that his party was the only ‘credible’ opposition to the Government.
Mr Kennedy stated: ‘With the others in disarray, people want us to be more ambitious. And I don’t lack ambition for us, I want to see our ambitions realised for them. Last year, I said it was a realistic ambition for us to start overtaking the Conservatives in British politics. This year, be in no doubt – We are overtaking the Conservatives.’
The Lib Dem leader went on to reiterate his calls for proportional representation. He argued that voter apathy would be reduced because they would feel more in control of what happens in Westminster.
Mr Kennedy added: ‘Fair votes – fundamentally – are about the rights and the interests of the people. It’s high time that we really did give power back to the people. But it’s not just the system which needs to change. It’s the values in politics which have to alter as well. The other two parties operate on the instinct of command and control.
‘ Our instinct is to consult and then to win consent. It’s the very lack of that approach which is turning people away from political parties.’
