LIKE lemmings, the Lib Dems ran recklessly to their demise in the elections.

Having supped from the Tory cup, they were subsumed by political hegemony and paid the price.

In 2010, New Labour was firmly rejected by the electorate, with no party given a mandate to rule.

It’s difficult to accept the reasoning from Nick Clegg that working with the Tories is in the nation’s best interest.

The Lib Dems should have remained independent from David Cameron’s betrayal and callousness involving policies such as the NHS and the AV vote. Mr Clegg should never have negotiated on tuition fees. He should have stood his ground regarding the £10,000 income tax threshold.

The increased threshold was initially a sensibly calculated regressive tax against the wealthy. But now it is being paid for by cuts in services and benefits. It rewards the wealthy ten times more than the poor.

Of course, it doesn’t help anyone who already pays zero income tax.

As with Mr Cameron’s impolite behaviour in the Commons and his disregard for using respectful Parliamentary language, so too he treats the Lib Dems with similar contempt, using them as a political shield to the Tories’ advantage.

T Scaife, Manor Drive, York.