In Praise Of Simon Hughes

I would just like to send my praise and thanks to Simon Hughes, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. This is due to the fact that he has written to Ofcom the media regulator regarding Rupert Murdoch’s planned takeover of British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB). Simon Hughes asks Ofcom to assess whether News International is a ‘fit and proper’ person to take ownership of BSkyB in accordance with the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996. Here, Here! It is important that we stand up for Liberal Democrat principles especially now we are in government. We as a party have never taken Rupert Murdoch’s money or support, unlike the Conservatives and Labour. Here is what Simon Hughes said. (http://www.libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Simon_Hughes%3a_Ofcom_must_investigate_whether_BSkyB_is_%e2%80%98fit_and_proper%e2%80%99&pPK=292bc47b-a281-4faa-a990-7e0c0505885f).

Nick Clegg and the other Lib Dem Cabinet ministers are bound by Cabinet collective responsibility but senior Lib Dems like Simon Hughes, Tim Farron, Ming Campbell and Charles Kennedy aren’t bound by Cabinet collective responsibility. Hence they should on occasion be willing to promote the Liberal Democrat view point on an issue even if it contradicts with those in the Conservative Party. An idea that the Party may want to consider is to appoint a ‘Chief Parliamentary Spokesperson’ who is able to communicate to the media the view of grassroots Liberal Democrats on an issue besides just the policy of the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Government. The Spokesperson would represent the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party and could offer a comment to the media alongside David Cameron the Leader of the Government and Ed Miliband the Leader of the Opposition. Due to the Spokesperson not being a member of the Coalition Government and the Coalition Cabinet they could make a comment and would not risk undermining the stability of the government. Simon Hughes as Lib Dem Deputy Leader may be an ideal candidate for this role.