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Article: kennedy's big test on lib-dem romance with labour
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- September 20, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1999 Evening Standard - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ONLY ONE important question faces the Liberal Democrats as they
gather this week in Harrogate for their annual conference.
Fortunately for Charles Kennedy, their new leader, delegates will
have no chance to vote on the answer.
The question is: should they cuddle up more to Labour or move
further apart? Mr Kennedy may not share Paddy Ashdown's personal
rapport with the Prime Minister, but he is hardheaded enough to know
the score. If his party is to flourish, the answer is clear. The
romance must blossom. Any other strategy spells certain disaster at
the next election. He knows this - but he also knows that his
activists tend to be tribal, radical, stubborn and bloody-minded.
Given their say, ...