Another deluded libdem! Danny Alexander, Treasury axeman, on tears, taxes and Tories DANIEL Grian Alexander does not make a habit of crying. But after a momentous year, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury is man enough to admit, given the amount of metaphorical blood and literal sweat and toil he put into the referendum campaign, it was only natural there were some tears - of joy - when the result finally came through on that dreich Friday morning in Edinburgh. After three years of, at times, bitter campaigning, the Union had been saved. I did cry. It was such a hugely emotional moment when we won, declares the 42-year-old Highland MP. The campaign, he explains, was a powerful experience; something that changed my life and the lives of thousands of Scots. So that is perhaps why he appears exasperated, angry even, at the attitude of some Scots, including Alex Salmond, the former First Minister, who believe the result on September 18 was not so much a No as a not yet. It is absolutely appalling, he insists. When youve been through that process, youve got to accept the result. You have to say we are not the 45 or the 55, we are the 100 per cent Scots. He suggests the New Year is an opportunity for the Nay-sayers to face reality and move on. Auld Lang Syne, Hogmanay...2015 is a time for Scotland to pull together and if the Nationalists keep arguing to break up the United Kingdom in that period, then they will pay a price for it. For nearly five years now, the Highlander, aptly perhaps the son of a firefighter, has, in his eyes, been putting out fires to save the economy and then seeking to improve it. He regards the Coalition as a partnership of equals despite the fact the Tories won 306 seats and the Lib Dems 57 in 2010. The former Cairngorms National Park press chief was the shortest-lived Scottish Secretary; he was just two weeks in post before the David Laws expenses scandal catapulted him into the Treasury, where Mr Alexander has been ever since, rubbing shoulders with the Conservative Chancellor George Osborne. We get on pretty well, he insists. Drinking partners? No, not really. I wouldnt say that. The Edinburgh-born Oxford graduates rising star has been helped by the fact that he is a close ally of his party leader Nick Clegg, having been, before the 2010 election, his Chief of Staff. And it is with the Deputy Prime Minister that Mr Alexander runs the Coalition through the so-called Quad alongside David Cameron and the Chancellor. The Coalition has only survived because it has held together at the very top. Correct, he declares. It functions because the Quad is a place, where we try to resolve our arguments privately; crucially, very often with nobody else in the room. Yet, having said that, the Lib Dem mantra is that their purpose in the life within the Coalition has been to tame and to temper the Tory tiger and its inclination towards excess. Its been difficult, of course, because we and the Tories have different views on things. Weve had them on a short leash. This suggests the Lib Dems have been the masters and the Conservatives the mastered. Well, laughs Mr Alexander, when you listen to Tory MPs speak, thats how they feel. With suggestions the Conservatives want to cut, cut and keep cutting even when the books are balanced, the Liberal Democrat frontbencher is clear his partys civilising role is not over just yet. You are starting to see now as the Tories start to set out their agenda for the future just how unpleasant some of the things they would do if they were left to their own devices, declares the Inverness MP. While there have been difficult moments - the PMs EU veto and the AV referendum - for the Scot, his proudest achievement has been turning round the economy. Frankly, that is something that wouldnt be happening without me, it wouldnt be happening without the Liberal Democrats, it wouldnt be happening without the way in which we have shaped the economic strategy of this government with the Conservatives. As the next General Election looms, Mr Alexander admits it will be the hardest campaign the Liberal Democrats have ever fought; because they are a party of government. But the Chief Secretary appears sanguine, insisting his party is the authentic voice of having a stronger Scottish Parliament within a stronger UK and is dismissive of the emboldened SNP, particularly its ex-leader, and his attempt to win a Lib Dem seat in his home territory of Gordon. Christine Jardine has the beating of Alex Salmond, absolutely, he declares, adding: I dont think any constituency in the country wants to be taken for granted by an ageing rock star on his farewell tour. As for the festive season, the father-of-two will be hill-walking in beautiful, snowclad Aviemore with his wife and two young daughters. Im looking forward to putting my feet up; its been a long year, he adds. The next, of course, could be longer still. Comments Bill McKelvie I dont think any constituency in the country wants to be taken for granted by an ageing rock star on his farewell tour. Thats no way for him to talk about Vince Cable. Jo Greenhorn, Lanarkshire • I dont think any constituency in the country wants to be taken for granted by an ageing rock star on his farewell tour. What a very ageist comment. Quite disgraceful. Jonathan McMonagle Jo Greenhorn, Lanarkshire • 10 hours ago Not just ageist Jo but, along with the rest of his comments about the battle for Gordon, contains the exact same sentiment that hes accusing AS of. To refer to one of the most popular politicians in Scotlands history as an ageing rock star on his farewell tour is surely taking AS for granted? I doubt Christine Jardine will share the same view and will know she has a fight on her hands. For the rest of it, the arrogance throughout the interview astounds me more than his dig at AS. Lizzie Myles,Crail • Looks like the Lib Dems have been handed a prepared version of events which they all believe to be 100% true and have all learned it off by heart in order to speak as one voice. Unfortunately, the public are not as stupid as the Lib Dems think and regardless of its outcome the referendum has certainly made people sit up and take notice of what is going on in the world of politics. They can fool some of the people some of the time but it looks like their time is about to run out. Shame really as they showed such promise before falling in love with the Tories. Peter Piper, Ayrshire • In Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Dannys seat, the odds on an SNP win are 4/9, on Danny, 2/1 against. In Gordon, the odds are SNP 1/7, LibDems 5/1. Mr Alexander admits it will be the hardest campaign the Liberal Democrats have ever fought; because they are a party of government No, its because to get some power, to get ministerial appointments, cars, the high life, the LibDems totally betrayed their principles, their voters, the NHS and students in England and Wales, and disabled, jobseekers and disadvantaged all over the UK. Richard Holmes, Orkney Peter Piper, Ayrshire • Hear Hear Peter. I mistakenly thought that the LibDems were the party that had principles; how naïve of me. What exactly do they stand for now? Does anyone actually know? Angus MacRuary, Isle of Skye • Im looking forward to putting my feet up. Get used to it. Paul Cochrane, Paisley • For the Scot, his proudest achievement has been turning round the economy. Frankly, that is something that wouldnt be happening without me. Newsflash Danny: It isnt happening! Frankly, Cameron and Osbornes faculty for stabbing their close partners in the front has led to an ever increasing national debt, food banks galore and wage drops that would make a granite block weep. The Tories have used the LibDems as a fig leaf of respectability as they have gleefully slashed public services with increasing subsidies to their City pals. Its called Etonomics and you have condoned it Danny. Still, when the Government of National Responsibility is formed in May, PM Cameron and Deputy PM Milliband will raise a glass to you. GRAHAM HANSON, GALASHIELS • If I never hear Danny Boy again it will be too soon. Nice melody, its just the words that grate. ronald richardson, hartlepool • Same old LibDem BS from Danny Alexander. He thinks people must accept they lost the referendum and move on,no calling themselves the 45% just accept that you are British and forget about an Independent Scotland. No way Danny boy, the Scots have already moved on and are working towards a yes vote in the next referendum,which will see the end of Britnat politics in Scotland. iain Lawson, Paisley • Here is a forecast, he will have plenty to cry about on the morning of May 8th this year. Richard Holmes, Orkney ...youve got to accept the result. I do accept the result Danny. For now. Im quite prepared to see how far Scotland can go with further devolution, but the Smith Commission recommendations fall far short of near federalism or home rule as is being claimed by some of your colleagues. But ultimately it is up to the people of Scotland to decide when the country is ready for another referendum; not you, not Salmond and not any other individual. Let me remind you of clause 18 of the Smith Commission: It is agreed that nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose. Lizzie Myles,Crail • When I first read this article I almost reached for my box of Kleenex but decided Mr Alexander will be able to make better use of them come May so will post them off today. Richard Holmes, Orkney • The LibDems are like rabbits caught in the headlights of the oncoming General Election; and theres nowhere for them to run. 8 • Reply•Share › Avatar Lizzie Myles,Crail Richard Holmes, Orkney • 2 hours ago Oh I dont know Richard, hows about into the big hole theyve dug for themselves. They just need to remember to back fill it on the way in. Richard Holmes, Orkney • Remember the NUS pledge that you signed, Danny? “I pledge to vote against any increase in fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a fairer alternative.” I ask because it appears that you quickly forgot your promise once you got a sniff of power, as on 9th December 2010 you voted alongside your new Tory chums FOR an increase in Student Tuition Fees, to an unprecedented £9,000 per annum south of the border. One of the worst examples of politicians abandoning their principles that I can ever recall. And I voted LibDem in 2010.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 11:18:00 +0000