A councillor (local government elected official) affiliated with the Liberal Democrat Party in the UK has resigned her party affiliation and switched to independent over her party’s failure to bring about the EU referendum promised in the last General Election!
Only one LibDem MP defied his party and voted for the EU referendum: Adrian Sanders. He must be a distant relative (although I must ask: Why be a LibDem? But it used to be the place for principled liberals who could not stomach Labour.) and here’s is explanation from his web site:
I voted for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU in Parliament yesterday.
Gladstone once said that “Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence; Conservatism is mistrust of the people tempered by fear”.
As a Liberal I trust the people to take decisions that affect their own lives.
I also believe that Government should be accountable to Parliament and not the other way round. This was back-bench business and the Government and Official Opposition shouldn’t have whipped members into line.
Imagine that, a LibDem for democracy! MP Sanders and I have the same gene: Dogged determination to do the right regardless! Rah for you, MP Sanders!
Thanks again to ConservativeHome and the Tory Diary. Read it if you want details on EU/UK politics.
