Do you still believe in the Conservatives?

The Conservatives and Father Christmas have something in common: Millions of people genuinely believe that if they stay off the “naughty list” and don’t ask for too much, the great gift-giver will bring nice things… eventually!

In November, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove rolled up to the County Council Network conference like Santa Claus making a pre-Christmas visit to a shopping centre. The chuckling fellow told council leaders he knew how good we’d been this year and how hard we’d been working to ensure that every resident has the housing, education, economic opportunities and public services they need. He even acknowledged the vital role Councils will play in tackling the Climate Emergency (apparently the lack of ice at the North Pole is a big concern!)

‘Saint Mick’ told us “I know some of what will be under your Christmas tree; I know the shape of some of the parcels; but the wrapping paper can’t be ripped off until the big day comes.” 

He told us he was “fighting hard” with the Treasury to get Councils the funding they need for the year ahead. After his speech, one of his ‘little helpers’ gave me a microphone, as if to say “what would you like for Christmas?” So of course, like a good little Cornish lad, I asked for new planning powers to give councils control over the number of homes being converted into holiday accommodation! (This is a long-standing Liberal Democrat policy which would make a huge difference in Cornwall where 25,000 properties are used as holiday accommodation instead of housing.) The jolly visitor said that “Cornwall has made a very strong case” for this change, and that we would see the answer in the updated “National Planning Policy Framework” which was due to be published in December.

So, you can imagine my excitement when, on the last working day before Christmas, a shiny new planning policy appeared on the Government website. But when I looked inside, the powers to control holiday accommodation were nowhere to be seen!

The richest in our society have seen their wealth grow enormously, even through the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, so it's no surprise that they keep believing in the Conservatives, just as children who keep finding presents under their tree continue believing in Father Christmas.

But for everyone else, the Conservatives have simply failed to deliver. Meanwhile, Labour are hoping to win the next election by default, assuming that every voter who turns away from the Conservatives will support them, even if they promise nothing.

Only the Liberal Democrats are offering real alternatives. From affordable housing to health and social care; and from the cost of living to the Climate Emergency, we have positive solutions to the country's biggest problems. To make that dream come true, it’s time to stop believing in fairy tales and start voting for the Liberal Democrats!