MEP slams Conservative's 'scaremongering' over balanced parliament

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Apr 2010

South West Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson has said that recent Conservative attacks on "hung parliaments" are based on fear, opposition to a change in British political culture, and bears no resemblance to the realities experienced in other countries.

David Cameron scrapped his planned party election broadcast on Monday to instead warn of the "stagnation" and indecisiveness that a hung parliament would bring, a theme that is set to continue in the Conservative's general election campaign.

However, Watson, who led a 100-strong group of Liberal MEPs from twenty-two countries for over seven years, has heavily criticised this argument. He said;

"These latest Tory attacks are intended to scare voters. They betray a party that thinks it is bigger than the needs of this country, and is completely unwilling to alter their approach to politics so we can get on with solving the problems facing the UK."

Watson believes that balanced parliaments do not automatically mean indecisiveness and can provide the stability needed for businesses and individuals thrive. He points to places like Germany, where balanced parliaments have been the norm for many years;

"Germany is just one case that completely contradicts the Conservative's argument. Not only have balanced parliaments been representative of the people, but they have also provided the platform for Germany to become one of the strongest economies on the continent. Germany is known as 'the engine of Europe'!"

Watson is backed up by his German colleague Michael Theurer MEP, a member of the Free Democratic Party which has experience from both German Federal and State Level.

"Negotiating agreements between different parties is no simple task. But politicians have got used to fact that we must put our differences aside to agree, and stick to, a programme of government. We have operated this system successfully for many years."

It is this alternative attitude of politicians that Watson says Cameron cannot seem to comprehend.

"We must change the confrontational political culture in this country. For far too long, the two main parties have chosen tribal party politics over tackling the problems we face.

"If the Tories cannot support a change in political culture, and agree to put national interest over their insane lust for power, then voters should not believe a word they say about "change" in their campaign.

"Voters should not be put off voting Liberal Democrat by Cameron's scaremongering and negative campaigning. They should embrace the change that Lib Dems offer; a change that will breathe new life into politics and form the basis of economic prosperity."