This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/20/tim-farron-tony-blair-lib-dem-conference-blairite-national-minimum-wage
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Tim Farron hails Tony Blair's 'early work' in pitch for Labour voters | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair should be admired for his government’s achievements on workers’ rights and the health service, the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has said in a conference speech pitched squarely at moderate Labour voters. | Tony Blair should be admired for his government’s achievements on workers’ rights and the health service, the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has said in a conference speech pitched squarely at moderate Labour voters. |
| He told the party’s conference in Brighton he was amazed Labour party members were “throwing around the word Blairite as if it’s the world’s most offensive insult”. | He told the party’s conference in Brighton he was amazed Labour party members were “throwing around the word Blairite as if it’s the world’s most offensive insult”. |
| Farron said he was not a Blairite, citing his opposition to the Iraq war, compulsory ID cards, 90-day detention, and deregulation of the banks. “There is more to Tony Blair’s legacy than that,” he went on. “I kind of see Tony Blair the way I see the Stone Roses: I preferred the early work.” | Farron said he was not a Blairite, citing his opposition to the Iraq war, compulsory ID cards, 90-day detention, and deregulation of the banks. “There is more to Tony Blair’s legacy than that,” he went on. “I kind of see Tony Blair the way I see the Stone Roses: I preferred the early work.” |
| Farron said Blair’s legacy was also the minimum wage, working tax credits, NHS investment and school-building. “I disagree with him a lot, but I will not criticise him for those things. I admire him for those things,” he said. | Farron said Blair’s legacy was also the minimum wage, working tax credits, NHS investment and school-building. “I disagree with him a lot, but I will not criticise him for those things. I admire him for those things,” he said. |
| “I respect him for believing that the point of being in politics is to get stuff done, and you can only get stuff done if you win. Otherwise you’re letting your opponent get stuff done instead.” | “I respect him for believing that the point of being in politics is to get stuff done, and you can only get stuff done if you win. Otherwise you’re letting your opponent get stuff done instead.” |
| Farron has previously expressed admiration for the former Labour prime minister, telling the Guardian last week he believed “a person who thinks winning elections so you can do good is honourable”. | Farron has previously expressed admiration for the former Labour prime minister, telling the Guardian last week he believed “a person who thinks winning elections so you can do good is honourable”. |
| The Lib Dems have made no secret during their Brighton conference of their desire to seize the support of voters on the centre-left and right concerned about the swerve of both main parties away from the middle ground. | The Lib Dems have made no secret during their Brighton conference of their desire to seize the support of voters on the centre-left and right concerned about the swerve of both main parties away from the middle ground. |
| However, there is little evidence thus far that those voters have been convinced that the Lib Dems are the answer. New polling released on Tuesday shows their ratings have barely changed from a year ago, despite heightened attention following the Brexit vote. | However, there is little evidence thus far that those voters have been convinced that the Lib Dems are the answer. New polling released on Tuesday shows their ratings have barely changed from a year ago, despite heightened attention following the Brexit vote. |
| When asked to compare Farron with the Liberal Democrat party, just 23% stated that they liked Farron but slightly more – 28% – said they liked the Lib Dems, with no change from last year’s conference. Almost half of those surveyed said “don’t know”, an indication that the leader has barely raised his public profile since taking over from Nick Clegg. | When asked to compare Farron with the Liberal Democrat party, just 23% stated that they liked Farron but slightly more – 28% – said they liked the Lib Dems, with no change from last year’s conference. Almost half of those surveyed said “don’t know”, an indication that the leader has barely raised his public profile since taking over from Nick Clegg. |
| It also remains to be seen how Farron’s praise of Blair will be received by his party. On Monday night at the Lib Dems’ annual unofficial glee club, members lustily sang: “Tony Blair can fuck off and die” to the tune of Don McLean’s American Pie. | It also remains to be seen how Farron’s praise of Blair will be received by his party. On Monday night at the Lib Dems’ annual unofficial glee club, members lustily sang: “Tony Blair can fuck off and die” to the tune of Don McLean’s American Pie. |
| In the hall, the response was certainly muted, but Lib Dem sources say that was not the target audience for the comments. They say their leader will push on with his appeal to New Labour’s early voters, ramping up his praise of some achievements of the Blair government. | In the hall, the response was certainly muted, but Lib Dem sources say that was not the target audience for the comments. They say their leader will push on with his appeal to New Labour’s early voters, ramping up his praise of some achievements of the Blair government. |
| Farron said he wanted to convince voters his party was the only one that could deny a pro-Brexit Conservative government a majority. He said: “I’m prepared to work with people of all parties and none if it will make people’s lives better. But I couldn’t work with Jeremy Corbyn, because Jeremy Corbyn would never work with me.” | Farron said he wanted to convince voters his party was the only one that could deny a pro-Brexit Conservative government a majority. He said: “I’m prepared to work with people of all parties and none if it will make people’s lives better. But I couldn’t work with Jeremy Corbyn, because Jeremy Corbyn would never work with me.” |
| He had kinder words for Owen Smith, Corbyn’s leadership rival. “Unlike Corbyn, he is certainly on our side of the European debate,” Farron said. “So if Owen Smith wins, I want to make clear that I am open to working together. And there are others I could work with too.” | He had kinder words for Owen Smith, Corbyn’s leadership rival. “Unlike Corbyn, he is certainly on our side of the European debate,” Farron said. “So if Owen Smith wins, I want to make clear that I am open to working together. And there are others I could work with too.” |
| In his speech Farron cited the former Labour frontbenchers Yvette Cooper, Chuka Umunna and Caroline Flint, all currently competing to chair the home affairs select committee, which the Lib Dem leader called “a retirement position”. He said: “Shouldn’t that be their leadership contest? What are these people doing, jostling for position in a sideshow? They should be centre-stage.” | In his speech Farron cited the former Labour frontbenchers Yvette Cooper, Chuka Umunna and Caroline Flint, all currently competing to chair the home affairs select committee, which the Lib Dem leader called “a retirement position”. He said: “Shouldn’t that be their leadership contest? What are these people doing, jostling for position in a sideshow? They should be centre-stage.” |
| Labour MPs Liz Kendall and Lisa Nandy have appeared at Lib Dem fringe events, voicing their support for cross-party collaboration. Nandy, who appeared with Green MP Caroline Lucas, told the fringe meetings her party spent too much time fighting over “small differences”. | Labour MPs Liz Kendall and Lisa Nandy have appeared at Lib Dem fringe events, voicing their support for cross-party collaboration. Nandy, who appeared with Green MP Caroline Lucas, told the fringe meetings her party spent too much time fighting over “small differences”. |
| Farron had far fewer conciliatory words for the Conservative party, the Lib Dems’ former coalition partners. Earlier in the speech he said the party had “lost the right to call itself the party of business”. | Farron had far fewer conciliatory words for the Conservative party, the Lib Dems’ former coalition partners. Earlier in the speech he said the party had “lost the right to call itself the party of business”. |
| He said: “It no longer supports business, no longer understands the need for calm economic pragmatism – but instead pursues the nationalist protectionist fantasies of the Brexit fundamentalists who have won the day. Indeed, my message to any business in this country – large or small – is if you are backing today’s Conservative party, you are funding your own funeral. We are the free-market, free-trade pro-business party now.” | He said: “It no longer supports business, no longer understands the need for calm economic pragmatism – but instead pursues the nationalist protectionist fantasies of the Brexit fundamentalists who have won the day. Indeed, my message to any business in this country – large or small – is if you are backing today’s Conservative party, you are funding your own funeral. We are the free-market, free-trade pro-business party now.” |
| Farron said he was confident the party could make inroads in Conservative seats, starting with local government. Party sources said they were closely studying the success of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party in Canada, which won a surprise but emphatic victory over the Conservative government after the collapse of the leftwing New Democratic party, which had been the official opposition. | Farron said he was confident the party could make inroads in Conservative seats, starting with local government. Party sources said they were closely studying the success of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party in Canada, which won a surprise but emphatic victory over the Conservative government after the collapse of the leftwing New Democratic party, which had been the official opposition. |
| Farron was unapologetic that he wanted to model himself on Trudeau, though admitted the Canadian was “better looking than me and he’s got a tattoo”. He said: “Trudeau’s Liberals leapt over an inadequate official opposition to defeat a rightwing Conservative government. Do you fancy doing that? ’Cause I do.” | Farron was unapologetic that he wanted to model himself on Trudeau, though admitted the Canadian was “better looking than me and he’s got a tattoo”. He said: “Trudeau’s Liberals leapt over an inadequate official opposition to defeat a rightwing Conservative government. Do you fancy doing that? ’Cause I do.” |
| Opportunities for the party existed in Tory seats after boundary changes, Farron said. “No one believes, whether boundary changes happen or not, that Labour will gain a single seat from the Tories. The SNP could only possibly take one seat off the Conservatives. But there are dozens of Tory seats in our reach. Which means that the only thing standing between the Conservatives and a majority at the next election is the revival of the Liberal Democrats.” | Opportunities for the party existed in Tory seats after boundary changes, Farron said. “No one believes, whether boundary changes happen or not, that Labour will gain a single seat from the Tories. The SNP could only possibly take one seat off the Conservatives. But there are dozens of Tory seats in our reach. Which means that the only thing standing between the Conservatives and a majority at the next election is the revival of the Liberal Democrats.” |
| As well as reiterating his promise to fight for a second referendum on any Brexit deal, Farron’s speech also pledged a fully taxpayer-funded care service, rebranding the NHS as the National Health and Care Service, even if it would mean tax rises. The Lib Dems would also campaign against the reintroduction of grammar schools and would scrap Sats for younger children. | As well as reiterating his promise to fight for a second referendum on any Brexit deal, Farron’s speech also pledged a fully taxpayer-funded care service, rebranding the NHS as the National Health and Care Service, even if it would mean tax rises. The Lib Dems would also campaign against the reintroduction of grammar schools and would scrap Sats for younger children. |
| Farron said beyond his party and the UK he believed there was a wider battle emerging between “the forces of tolerant liberalism and intolerant, closed-minded nationalism”. | Farron said beyond his party and the UK he believed there was a wider battle emerging between “the forces of tolerant liberalism and intolerant, closed-minded nationalism”. |
| With genuine emotion, Farron spoke of his experience volunteering during the refugee crisis in Lesbos, where he was confronted by an aid worker from New Zealand, who knew he was a British politician. “She looked at me and shouted: ‘Stop handing out bottles of water and take some effing refugees.’ Because that is how Britain is seen. Mean, and not pulling its weight. And maybe that doesn’t bother some people, but it bothers me.” | With genuine emotion, Farron spoke of his experience volunteering during the refugee crisis in Lesbos, where he was confronted by an aid worker from New Zealand, who knew he was a British politician. “She looked at me and shouted: ‘Stop handing out bottles of water and take some effing refugees.’ Because that is how Britain is seen. Mean, and not pulling its weight. And maybe that doesn’t bother some people, but it bothers me.” |
| The appeal not to abandon refugees, as more news came in that the UN would halt aid convoys into Syria after one was shelled, drew a standing ovation and raised fists in the crowd. | The appeal not to abandon refugees, as more news came in that the UN would halt aid convoys into Syria after one was shelled, drew a standing ovation and raised fists in the crowd. |
| “I am proud of who we are – always a sanctuary for the desperate, the abused and the persecuted,” Farron said. “And I will not stand by and watch my country become smaller, meaner and more selfish.” | “I am proud of who we are – always a sanctuary for the desperate, the abused and the persecuted,” Farron said. “And I will not stand by and watch my country become smaller, meaner and more selfish.” |