Not one but three Scottish Liberal Democrats appeared on Newsnight last night to defend the indefensible. And what an unconvincing lot they were.
First up came Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who couldn't tell Jeremy Paxman how many Liberal Democrat manifesto promises made it into the hefty Comprehensive Spending Review document he was waving around.
Worse was to come on Newsnight Scotland where Gordon Brewer ambushed the Scottish Secretary Michael Moore with a question on Employment Support Allowance, which is to be withdrawn from claimants who fail to get work inside a year.
"How many people will be affected in Scotland?" asked Brewer.
Moore, a man who clearly feels uncomfortable with eye contact, let alone communicating with the nation on television, squirmed beneath the studio lights.
"We are still working through the numbers," he eventually replied, obviously in some pain.
"Roughly?" pressed Brewer.
"I don't have that figure to hand..."
Brewer expressed astonishment that, as Secretary of State for Scotland, he had not thought to ask. To make things easier for his victim, the presenter then sketched out a real life example. Parts of Glasgow, he pointed out, have more than 50% of people out of the workforce. Voluntary groups and private companies are, supposedly, being used to get these individuals into jobs. What if, despite every effort, these organisations fail to find the unemployed person work within a year and his or her benefit was withdrawn. What would Moore suggest that person did?
Given his earlier performance, I half expected the Secretary of State for Scotland to reply: "Haven't a clue Gordon, why ask me?
Instead he spluttered about getting people back into work, despite the fact that his government's spending review will cut £1.3 billion from the Scottish Govenrment in cash terms this coming year and cause around 12,000 job losses.
The next Scottish Liberal Democrat in the firing line was the veteran Malcolm Bruce MP. He may have a more reassuring manner than the awkward Moore, but he was no more convincing. I mean, how DO you defend the decision to withdraw mobility money from severely disabled people in residential care? (See the A Burdz Eye View blog for more details on this and the answer to the question that stumped Moore).
It all kind of explains the Liberal Democrats awful showing in the latest Scottish opinion poll, which has them down to 8 MSPs compared to the current 18. John Curtice in The Scotsman suggests that, since the poll was conducted before the Comprehensive Spending Review, it is possible that they couldn't go much lower...they have already scrapped the bottom. Given Moore's performance last night, I wouldn't count on it.
Out of his depth as are most LibDems who have dumped there policies for power lets hope the voters aren't so shallow.
Posted by: cynicalHighlander | October 21, 2010 at 06:49 PM