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In an election full of surprises, perhaps one of the biggest shocks was the almost total wipe out of the Liberal Democrats. The first step in the party’s efforts at rebuilding is its current leadership election with the results due on 16th July. Despite the two candidates making up a quarter of the parliamentary party, there is at least a choice of two experienced, established – and in many respects very different – candidates for the membership to choose from.
Tim Farron, perhaps viewed in the past with suspicion by many, is undoubtedly the front runner. The darling of party activists from his time as Party President, his northern charm combined with outspoken comments giving the party two out of ten for its performance in government and his decision to vote against tuition fees will do him no harm.
As Minister for much of the Coalition, Lamb is tied to the party’s past record in a way that Farron isn’t and while he can’t match Farron’s record as a serial rebel his track record on mental health policy certainly appeals to activists. It is too simplistic to argue that he’s standing purely on a ‘classical liberal’ platform, but his focus has been on prison and drug reform, the environment, human rights and civil liberties.
While Farron’s also stressed his commitment to these themes that fire up party activists, he’s used hustings and the media to stress his commitment to dealing with social justice and inequality much more than Lamb, making it clear that housing will be at the centre of his leadership if successful. In a perhaps strategically astute move considering the influx of new members supportive of the party’s record in government, his critical rhetoric on the Lib Dem’s coalition record has been noticeably toned down, replaced by praise for action on tax changes for the lowest paid, the pupil premium, and child detention.
While it seems likely that Farron’s label as the favourite will be justified come the results, the challenge for him – or Lamb – will only really start at that point. The need to bring energy to a wounded party; unite a party whose members agree on sometimes nebulous principles on social issues but many of whom vehemently disagree on economic policy; motivate new members to become active rather than sitting on the side lines; and implement a strategy which persuades the public and the media that a party with as many MPs as the DUP has a distinctive message and a right to be heard, are all ambitious tasks.
With elections in London, Wales and Scotland in less than a year and an uphill task at the next parliamentary elections, this certainly isn’t a job for the faint-hearted but only time will tell if its past attempts to re-establish itself can be replicated and whether a new leader will be the turning point in its fortunes that many expect.