By IRNA,
London : Liberal Democrat MPs should have a veto on policies put forward by Britain’s coalition government, according to the party’s recently-elected deputy leader Simon Hughes.
“The parliamentary party on behalf of the wider party on big issues has to be able to say: ‘No, we can’t go down this road’,” said Hughes.
His call coincided with the centre-right Conservative-led government marking its first 100 days in office and a new poll showing a further decline in support for the Lib Dems, the centre-left junior partners in the coalition.
As part of the coalition pact, the first in Britain in more than 60 years, Lib Dem MPs are unable to vote against several policies, including nuclear issues, which the party opposed in their election manifesto.
One of the first tests will come next month, when the government introduces legislation to restrict the arrest of alleged Israeli war criminals under universal jurisdiction when visiting the UK.
Among the current 62 Lib Dem MPs, 53 including two who are now cabinet ministers, Business Secretary Vince Cable and Energy Secretary Chris Huhne as well as 11 more who hold ministerial posts, have previously said they would vote against any amendment.
Hughes said that the government, collectively, was having to take some “difficult decisions”, which some people might find difficult to accept.
“If the coalition wants to deliver [parliamentary] votes, neither party on its own has a majority, so we have to make sure everyone is brought into that,” he told BBC Breakfast Time.
Some of the disputes, including opposition to government spending cuts, are expected to be aired when the Lib Dems hold their annual conference next month.
Hughes, who has been an MP for 27 years, pledged to “fight every day for the principles which underpin our party” when he became deputy leader in June.