THE Liberal Democrats’ unprincipled, opportunistic grab for power at any price has landed them in Government, and in thrall to an untried and untested Conservative Party.

While we all wait with bated breath to see how this shotgun wedding will work, it is now increasingly clear that the Lib Dems cannot possibly now claim they are an alternative centre-left option to the Labour Party.

Moreover, the Lib Dems can no longer hide their local chameleon campaigns (centre-left in progressive York and centre right in conservative North Yorkshire) now that they will be in the full glare of the national media spotlight.

I look forward to next year’s council elections, when the Lib Dems will struggle to persuade local voters that they are still a progressive party, when it is clear that they will really be helping David Cameron slip Thatcherism in through the back door.

True colours? We shall see.

David Thompson, High Oaks, York.


• THE CONSERVATIVES and Lib-Dems are in bed together.

On December 28, 2009, David Cameron said there was a “lot less disagreement than there used to be” between Conservatives and Lib Dems.

On March 11, Nick Clegg spoke of his admiration for Thatcher in the Daily Mail. As a candidate at the election, I warned voters that a vote for the Lib Dems could see a Conservative government.

Not only was I the only left-wing candidate in York Outer, but the only one to rule out supporting a Conservative Government.

Yet my Lib Dem opponent spent thousands on leaflets saying vote Lib-Dem to stop the Tories. How disappointed must some Lib Dem voters feel today?

I am not surprised. In February, 2008 Conservative Councillors voted for a Lib Dem council budget that cut travel tokens for the elderly in half. In February, 2009, Lib Dem councillors voted for a Conservative budget leading to increases in the cost of school meals and abolished travel tokens altogether.

After years of exceptional service, Gordon Brown left office with dignity saying he was “Labour and will always be Labour through and through”. Can Cameron and Clegg say this about themselves and their parties?

Coun James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council Labour Opposition Group, Holgate, York.


• WHAT fantastic news for Britain. With the Conservatives and Lib Dems now in power maybe we can see a future for our country with a bit of common sense from both sides.

At approaching 60 years old, I dearly hope I will never see another Labour government in power, especially with a Prime Minister who was not even elected.

Lord only knows what the Scots over the border who mostly voted Labour will do. One was quoted on TV saying the Conservative Party in England had no mandate to govern Scotland. They want it all ways – so it would have been okay if Labour had got in? They should have voted SNP and split from England if they are not happy as things are.

Bob Waite, Holgate, York.


• WORKING together for national the interest? I was very sceptical about this outcome.

I envisaged an overwhelming Tory dominance, with the Lib Dems dancing to their tune, and feared for the poor and vulnerable. I wanted Nick Clegg to walk away from Labour and the Tories, and use his independent power in Westminster, together with those who share his aims.

As we know more about of the extent of partnership in the coalition, I am more hopeful and expectant of it working for the national interest of us all in our present situation.

One very promising aspect of this is the hands-on experience of sharing power for all our politicians and us too. I still hope that Single Transferable Votes will not be too far away.

The Tories and Lib Dems together, and Labour too, have to make it work for their own good and ours also.

We shall see.

George Appleby Clifton, York.