Don't listen to voters, Clegg. There are more important things to do

So. Nick Clegg.

This is a bit MSM of me - I should have blogged on this two days ago. But I've been thinking about it for a couple of days is all. Is that allowed?

When Mr Clegg picked up his Liberal Leader of the week trophy the other day he set himself three tasks. He said he would unite his party, be ambitious to win and listen to voters.

These are all bad ideas. They sound good. But they aren't.

What Nick Clegg should do is come out with sharp ideas on choice and reform that his party will find difficult to swallow and then battle through to an impresive victory over his internal critics.

These ideas should have strong appeal to some even if that group is limited in size. He should use the fact that the Libs can't win a majority, treating minority status as an asset rather than a problem.

And he should challenge voters, winning them round through argument rather than simply responding to their whims.

I am sure he has the intelligence, imagination and charm to make such a strategy work.

But does he have the bottle?

Comments

[Richard]

Surely, the article should be entitled, 'Don't listen to Clegg, voters. There are more important things to do.' ...The LimpDims will never be a party of government, they will always be on the margins of British politics with their curious brand of lightly loony Left policies and draconian taxation proposals.

[Josh Watts]

I disagree. It is a fatal mistake never to listen to voters. Firstly it is aloof to assume all voters views are nothing more then whims and that Mr. Clegg has all the right arguments. Mr. Clegg should be listening to voters so that he can take any arguments they put forward into consideration and form a well rounded well argued opinion. Rather then arrogantly assuming he has already got the answers and dogmatically attempting to impose them on others he should be prepared to hear both sides. Secondly it is pragmatic to listen; even if he disagrees with what voters want if he doesn’t pander to it he will never win votes, will fall out of the parties favour, and will be replaced. I am glad he has intelligence, imagination and charm to acknowledge this even if it is only that.