Financial Times says Lib Dems are "leading the debate on the country's fiscal dilemma"

11.24.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 25th Jun 2009

Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

In an editorial today, The Financial Times - not noted for paying much attention to the Liberal Democrats in normal circumstances - observes that the Party is now "prominent in the debate on the financial crisis" and that "they are also leading the debate on the country's fiscal dilemma".

The paper reports Lib Dem Party leader Nick Clegg saying that it is "not beyond the realms of possibility" that his party could move into second place at the next election, ahead of Labour." His party might well receive more votes than Labour; they nearly managed that feat in 1983. …

It continues: "Of the big national parties, only they opposed the war in Iraq and only they have consistently opposed Labour's illiberalism. Thanks to Vince Cable, their economic spokesman, the Lib Dems have also been prominent in the debate on the financial crisis.

"At the moment, they are also leading the debate on the country's fiscal dilemma. Whereas the main parties continue to exchange bromides, the Lib Dems have made the bold, if contentious, decision not to support renewal of the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent."

The FT concludes: "Offering clarity when others prefer obfuscation is a valuable public service. Even if the Lib Dems do not win, they flush out the inconsistencies of their opponents. In their eagerness to become one of Britain's governing parties, the Liberal Democrats must avoid becoming risk-averse. Their ultimate selling point is they are not like the other parties."