Lib Dem resigns over Nick Clegg's 'lack of political will'

A former chairman of the Keighley and Ilkley Liberal Democrats, Roger Beaumont, resigned from the party and criticised leader Nick Clegg on the party’s local website.

Mr Beaumont, who stood as the Lib Dem candidate for the constituency of Keighley and Ilkley at last year’s General Election, was "enraged" with Mr Clegg’s policy on tuition fees, income tax and National Insurance.

Mr Beaumont told The Journal that he posted his views on the website of the Keighley and Ilkley Lib Dems, which he ran as webmaster, stating that he had "fallen out of love with Clegg and other economic liberals." Mr Beaumont subsequently removed the 800-word post, although it was seen by members of other political parties and sent to the local newspaper, The Telegraph and Argus.

The focal issue for Mr Beaumont was Mr Clegg’s U-turn on tuition fees and the 0.5 per cent National Insurance tax rate for those who earn over £40,000 per year. Those who earn under £40,000 must pay a National Insurance rate of 11.5 per cent, a 10 per cent difference in the threshold.

Mr Beaumont told The Journal: "Those with banker bonuses are paying 10 per cent less than those on lower incomes." Mr Beaumont also thought that Mr Clegg demonstrated a "lack of political will" for the implementation of Liberal Democrat policies and cited the split within the party between 'economic Liberals' and 'social Liberals'.

"With Christmas so recently past, we should remember the words of the carol, Good King Wenceslas," Mr Beaumont said, "he went out to help someone more in need than he was. That’s what I thought the Liberal Democrats were about. Nick Clegg seems to have a different inspiration."

Neil Fraser, a candidate for the Labour party in Ilkley in May’s local elections, who sent Mr Beaumont’s parting message to the local newspaper, The Telegraph and Argus, said: "It’s an astonishing rant and shows the depth of betrayal many people who voted Liberal Democrat in good faith are now feeling." 

"This time I don’t agree with Nick."