letters@totalpolitics.com

Letters

This month we received letters about falling Lib Dem support and the real problem with stop and search

Letter of the month wins a copy of Iain Dale’s TalkingPolitics, with over 25 extended interviews

Lack of voting confidence When I crossed the box on my ballot sheet for the first time in May last year, I felt sure that I knew what I was voting for. Although the idea of scrapping tuition fees entirely seemed like wishful thinking in the face of impending budget cuts, I hoped that the Liberal Democrats could at least be trusted to safeguard the current system in the event of a coalition. While I understand the necessity of compromise in a government of two parties, for the Liberal Democrats to be involved in a bill that completely opposes the plans set out in their manifesto does not give me confidence that my vote was well used. While I would not say it has put me off voting for the Liberal Democrats in the future, they have a long way to go to redeem themselves. Olivia Hunt Bournemouth Lib Dem support In response to the piece by Andrew Hawkins in last month’s Total Politics,it is not just Nick Clegg who the electorate have lost faith in. The Liberal Democrats in general have seen their support plummet, from receiving 42 per cent of the student vote at the general election to polling at just 11 per cent now according to Channel 4/Opinion Panel research. Clegg will hope the wave of animosity passes but students have now been joined by the wider union movement. With protests in Manchester at the end of January, those who believe the

Conservatives and Lib Dems have it wrong on cuts will continue to make their voices heard. Nick Clegg and David Cameron should expect to see their approval continue to fall. Aaron Porter

Conservatives and Lib Dems have it wrong on cuts will continue to make their voices heard. Nick Clegg and David Cameron should expect to see their approval continue to fall. Aaron Porter President, National Union of Students

In opposition to Olisa I am writing in following your recent interview with Ken Olisa (TP, Jan). Quite frankly I found Mr Olisa’s attitude defensive and at times very nasty and petty. I found the comment about training for IPSA staff before they were let loose on MPs “Well, there’s the samurai course...” very distasteful. In case your readers weren’t aware a previous MP’s staff member (Andrew Pennington) was killed by a constituent and the MP (Nigel Jones) was seriously injured with a samurai sword. Not to mention the recent attack on Stephen Timms.

This led to a tightening up of security in MPs’ offices – a task now made all the harder by assuming all MPs and by definition from that article, all their staff are crooks, when MPs submit invoices for security measures. Perhaps Mr Olisa should have spoken to the Head of PR at IPSA (on £80k) before making such crass remarks! Gareth Myton Unite MPs Staff Branch

Avoiding the tea party The tea party movement is an American phenomena. But as Chris Lewis indicates (TP, Jan) the political environment that gave rise to it has similarities to ours in Britain. The tea party is a particular response to a feeling that politics is out of touch with ordinary people and

4 | Total Politics | February 2011

that the professional political class looks after its own interest rather than those of ordinary folk. The political scandals of the last few years culminating in MPs’ expenses and the aftermath of the banking crises has resulted in a new culture of cynicism. Elected politicians are going to have to recognise that they are public employees who can be hired and fired by voters. In return for their pay and position we expect them to be transparent and accountable to us in a way they never were in the past. If they don’t, they will face a revolt that will make the aftermath of the MPs’ expenses scandal look like a tea party. Peter Facey Unlock Democracy

The point of stop and search In last month’s debate, both Nick Herbert and Simon Woolley seemed to miss the fundamental point. Police use of stop and search powers should be about public safety. The test of the effectiveness of Section 44 stops is not whether any of those people stopped were then arrested for terrorism-related offences. The random stop and search power was designed to deter terrorists, not to catch them. If a would-be terrorist knows that there is a high likelihood that he or she will be stopped in a particular area, they are less likely to go there. There is a real danger that plans to reduce police bureaucracy may end up leading to more problems because there will no longer be any data on what is actually happening in particular communities or areas. Lord Harris Chair of the policing APPG

The power of a carrot There is absolutely no doubt about the need to encourage “green” thinking (TP, Jan) – the rapidly rising cost of all fuels ought to be enough reason for householders to take action without any help from the government. The new Energy Security and Green Economy Bill will provide some fresh financial carrots. The most inefficiently insulated homes in the UK could cut their bills