Clegg confronts coalition critics

Now the Sheffield Hallam MP, if the opinion polls are to be believed, is the most likely of the three main party leaders to still be in government after the next 2015 election as the Tories struggle to make an impact in the North and Labour find themselves bereft of economic credibility.

Many voters will dispute the Deputy Prime Minister’s assertion that coalitions are the best form of government for Britain, and that outright victory for either the Conservatives – or Labour – at the next election would result in “the wrong kind of recovery”. They will contend that the Lib Dems have too much influence for a party that won just 57 seats in 2010 in contrast to the 307 constituencies secured by David Cameron’s party.

That said, Mr Clegg’s setpiece interview yesterday was noteworthy for two reasons. First, he said it is important that the Lib Dems accept that their best interests are served by being in office. This is significant, given the number of occasions over the past three years when the Deputy PM has come under fire from those in his party who would clearly be more comfortable advancing a centre-left agenda from the Opposition benches in the Commons.

Second, there does appear to be a growing maturity to the Lib Dems in government. They can take credit for persuading the Conservatives to raise the income tax threshold to £10,000 – Mr Cameron said this was unaffordable at the last election – and there is a motion at this year’s conference acknowledging that tuition fees are the best way to finance higher education following the party’s volte-face which still enrages student activists.

That said, there are still dangers ahead for Mr Clegg. He must not become sidelined by speculation about the make-up of the next government – that will be for the British people to decide.

The best way for the Lib Dems to show the benefits of coalition is by continuing the economic, cost of living and welfare reforms, the policies that matter most of all to voters across Yorkshire, rather than taking the proverbial foot off the accelerator. That will not be in the long-term interests of either the country – or the Liberal Democrats.

Future of freight

ONE key word has been largely overlooked during the Government’s fightback over its HS2 high-speed rail plan – freight.

As Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin highlights the importance of this plan in freeing up track capacity so more services can operate at peak times on existing routes, he also needs to heed the warning from Lord Berkeley who heads the Rail Freight Group.

His point is a valid one. 
He says HS2 will be a 
wasted opportunity, and will fail to fulfil its economic potential, if insufficient attention is given to the cargo industry.

At the outset, HS2 supporters have always contended that high-speed rail will ease the pressure on congested motorways like the M1, A1M and M62.

This is welcome. But, as Lord Berkeley has pointed out, the planning needs to take place now so freight hauliers can have every confidence that the final route will reflect their needs as private entrepreneurs who are looking to attract new customers and investors over the coming decades.

As such, there needs to be far greater clarity now on the configuration of the rail network so services carrying freight on the HS2 route from London to Leeds can continue to York, the North East and Scotland with the minimum of delay. For, if rail freight is to be a legitimate alternative to the road, time will be of the essence.

Going the distance

THE pulling power of the marathon, still regarded by many as the ultimate test of sporting endurance, was illustrated by the record number of 50,000 competitors who lined up in yesterday’s Great North Run.

They ranged in extremes from Mo Farah, the poster boy of world athletics, to an intrepid group of Yorkshire Cancer Research fundraisers. Dressed as penguins, they not only rode their bicycles from these parts to the North East before completing the half-marathon in their costumes, but they will use pedal power to make the journey home today.

It’s the same with the triathlon. The trailblazing Leeds brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee are inspiring a new generation of enthusiasts who are prepared to put their bodies on the line by swimming, cycling and running extreme distances in the name of charity.

After Jonathan Brownlee conceded his world title to Javier Gomez in the last strides of one of the greatest ever triathlons, it will only be a matter of time before these flagbearers of Yorkshire sport face competition from competitors dressed as penguins.

That is the magnetism of the marathon and the triathlon; they’re sports open to people of all abilities including those charity fundraisers whose determination – even foolhardiness – raises so much money for the less fortunate. Britain would be much the poorer without them.