Lib Dem-baiting won't work: the Tories' free ride must end

[T_i_B]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/19/liberal-democrats-tories-labour-aggressive-cuts

The pained expressions of once-pious Lib Dems – scuttling from policy to policy and U-turning through the division lobbies while facing the jeers of students, defections of party members and mockery of cartoonists – has been a delicious diversion for Labour politicians, a rare flowering of warmth and colour in a bleak landscape.

But it has also confused the centre-left about its real enemies, and in doing so has helped David Cameron, the undoubted winner of this year's "top politician" award. Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and Danny Alexander really have acted as the Tories' human shield. They reel off for their holiday breaks with bruises, arrow-holes and sword-cuts all over them, desperate for relief. Cameron and his Tory ministers, meanwhile, are sauntering off joking about just how easy "difficult" politics seems to be. In private, senior Conservative cabinet members say they are genuinely enjoying themselves. I think they mean it.

The big question for 2011 is whether this free run for Cameron and his chums will go on. It shouldn't, of course. Tory commentators have focused on two issues that are pitting traditionalists and rightwingers against the leadership – Ken Clarke's "prison doesn't work" policies and the festering question of Europe. These may both be sideshows: moving Clarke would irritate Lib Dems but is hardly beyond Cameron's abilities; while the EU divisions are not wide enough to provoke a party bust-up.

Instead, the Tories' biggest problems will be to do with the radical devolving of power from centre to communities. The cuts will be felt most acutely by local authorities, colleges and in the health service. Swingeing reductions in budgets for social care provision, libraries and clubs will cause intense anger. The demolition of primary care trusts to give GPs control over 80% of NHS money will cause an upheaval in healthcare and administrative chaos. Many schools will find that, despite the "new" pupil premium money, their budgets have been frozen or reduced. Potholes will go unfilled. Life in communities will become grimier.