An elegant posting by Tim Worstall on how far the UK Lib Dems are ‘really’ Left or Right:

… the OB Lib Dems are most certainly not of the left. They’re of the right: do what is necessary to get the economy right, use markets wherever possible, get the economics of taxation correct and then, if desired, start redistributing. As opposed to this “left” desire to not use markets, ignore the economics of taxation and use the structure and restrictions on the economy to get to the desired economy.

This isn’t, I agree, how left and right is usually seen. But it is a very strong distinction in British politics. Those who are left by results (including me) and those who are left by processes…

There again, maybe the Lib Dems are ‘framing’themselves to be ‘left by results’ (and accordingly pro-market by process) whereas in fact they are neurotic etatists in instinct and substance?

In some baffling way British democracy has shrivelled towards the point where it’s all a sort of X-Factor event – some or other pretty boy sings well on the night and bingo, he wins. Regardless of anything substantial.

Tim:

Now all we’ve got to do is wean the Lib Dems off their insane infatuation with the EU and we’re home and dry.

Hmm.

The Lib Dem manifesto under the your world heading is a somewhat surreal text, burbling on about ‘runaway climate change’ which will be tackled in the UK in part by … YES … a new bus scrappage scheme.

Sigh.