Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/686/12816
From The Socialist newspaper, 21 September 2011
Protest at Lib Dem conference
Tom Creek, Birmingham Socialist Party
On Sunday 18 September around 800 protesters gathered in Birmingham to 'welcome' the Liberal Democrats for their annual conference. A vocal demonstration showed the Tories' favourite stooges that they have not been forgiven for jumping into the Con-Dem coalition at the first chance of power and abandoning their pre-election promises.
The anger of workers and youth remains, especially over the Lib Dems' u-turn over tuition fees. One Lib Dem delegate who made the mistake of asking for directions from demonstrators was simply told to 'try going left'!
Inside the conference, the party's leaders desperately tried to regain some credibility. One insisted that the 'marriage' with the Tories was only temporary, and would be over in five years. Most people would think that five days was too long!
Vince Cable spouted dishonest rhetoric about making the rich pay their taxes, despite the fact that his government is making hundreds of HMRC workers who deal with tax evasion redundant.
Of course, socialists never had any illusions in Nick Clegg and his party. The Lib Dems have always been a party of big business and capitalism, so their betrayals were only to be expected.
Socialist Party members distributed leaflets calling for people to support the public sector strike on 30 November and the National Shop Stewards Network campaign against all cuts. We also called for a socialist alternative to the crisis ridden capitalist system that the Lib Dems support.
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In The Socialist 21 September 2011:
Building for 30 November strike
We won't pay for the bankers' crisis!
30 November - the fight of all our lives
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Gloucestershire: Rage ignites against NHS privatisation
12th hour reprieve for Dale Farm
Socialist Party news and analysis
Wales mine deaths: Privatisation comes under the spotlight
Private rail companies - a licence to print money
Socialist history
Poplar 1921: 'Better to break the law than break the poor'
Socialist Party feature
2011 Labour Party conference - a debate: Can Labour be reclaimed?
International socialist news and analysis
Kazakhstan: Dictatorial regime threatens socialist activists
Floods devastate Sindh: Crisis worsens, hundreds killed
Socialist Party youth and students
Don't let the Con-Dems steal our future!
Save Devon youth service: "time for young people to stand up"
Jobs, homes and services, not racism
University - pay more, receive less
Youth protest movement grows in Israel
Socialist Party workplace news
Southampton council workers vote for more action
Remploy workers "will not go gently" - or at all!
Expelled from Unison for effective anti-cuts leadership
Bus workers force management climb-down
Protesting construction workers call for national strike ballot
Recognition won back - at a price
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