Libdemology: Lib Dems Want It Both Ways on Referenda. They Don't Do Them When In Control

Mr Nicol Stephen, the leader of the Lib Dem contingent of the ruling coalition in Scotland - though this does not stop them criticising their own decisions as if they were owned by others - is being rather helpful on the question of how Lib Dems see referenda.

In an interview with The Scotsman he said:

“In 1997, the Liberal Democrats saw no need for a referendum before establishing a Scottish Parliament, which we strongly supported, so why in 2007 would we support a referendum to establish a separate Scottish state, which we strongly oppose? The Liberal Democrats will not support any back-door routes to independence after a Scottish election where the parties who support separation have no majority.”

So they don't support a referendum where it might overturn their preference. But alas in Manchester their maverick MP - whose party do not pass Stephen's test of having a majority in any sense, not even by a long chalk in Manchester Withington - has been making an idiot of himself calling for a referendum and, as is typical of his maverick party, speaking up against Manchester's interests.

My question for John Leech or any of his cronies is this:

There are now a considerable number of Lib Dem controlled Town Halls. Mostly for very short tenancies as they get found out quickly, but quite a few at any one time. Have ANY of these authorities conducted all voter referenda on ANYTHING over the past twelve months?

"Yes" or "No" will do. Some examples where it might be appropriate are:

On extending Glamorgan's Cricket Ground into local parks and thereby stealing Manchester's 2009 Ashes Test?
Or stealing parts of Stanley Park for Liverpool FC?
Or removing the subsidy from a much loved Bristol railway while pretending to back our Metro?
Or screwing all the Town Hall workers in Leeds in a Lib-Con conspiracy?
Or raiding reserves for years in Liverpool to play petty politics with Council Tax then cancelling their famous Pops series with little notice when it all comes home to roost? Having just carried out a tendering process that made it cheaper.
Or deciding the day after getting control to throw all the regeneration grants in Newcastle back at the government as they'd have to demolish some houses to rebuild the communities?

So how many referenda is that altogether John boy?

And what do the Lib Dems actually understand by the term 'representative democracy'?

Are Lib Dems right when they don't hold referenda themselves? When they have a majority. Or are they right when they demand one on this? When they have no majority.

Or do they really think they can have it both ways?

Let's face it John Leech's position on this business is untenable. He has not properly represented local people's interests. He has shot his mouth off - probably thinking that we wouldn't get the investment anyway - and lived to regret it.

Is he going to bring his puritan misery to bear on everything? And if so why why why is he in the diabolical liberties party party who usually want social and economic liberalism all round?