http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=19803 The NewsBiscuit Community en-US Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:28 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/search.php http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=19803#post-53413 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:06:29 +0000 deskpilot3 53413@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Undercover Lib Dem MP is prepared to give evidence in favour of the Conservatives... </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=19803#post-53323 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:46:03 +0000 Ludicity 53323@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has defended plans to introduce a policy of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ that would allow Liberal Democrats to serve in government while keeping their political persuasion private. </p> <p>‘‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is necessary to maintain the morale of the Coalition forces,’ explained Mr Clegg, adding, ‘in order for Lib Dems to stay in Cabinet we really need to get into the closet.’</p> <p>Under the new arrangement it will be assumed that every member of the government is now a Conservative, even though many of them may have so-called ‘liberal tendencies’. </p> <p>‘This is not about discriminating against Lib Dems,’ insisted Prime Minister David Cameron, ‘it’s just that a lot of our boys feel decidedly nervous thinking that they might be working alongside one.’</p> <p>‘Being a Lib Dem isn’t easy,’ said Mr Clegg, ‘There’s a terrible social stigma attached and we face a lot of anger and discrimination, especially from people who once voted for us. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is the solution. Don’t ask me how many pledges I have broken and I won’t tell.’</p> <p>The policy follows a spate of humiliations in which members of the government were publicly ‘outed’ for their views. ‘Yes, some of us do bat for the other side,’ confided one anonymous Lib Dem, ‘some of us even care about the students and what happens to the poor, but being open about that sort of thing will only cause problems for everyone.’</p> <p>‘We are regularly under attack for who we are,’ said another, ‘people keep sidling up to us in the House of Commons toilets and making lewd suggestions about doing ‘liberal’ things. But if we go along with them we find ourselves being exposed on the front page of The Daily Telegraph. For many of us, having liberal views has become the love that dare not speak its name.’</p> <p>‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will also prevent the media from publicly naming members of the government as Lib Dems. ‘This is not about curtailing press freedom,’ said Business Secretary Vince Cable, ‘this is about politicians of a certain persuasion being able to keep their personal beliefs private. How can I be expected to do my job properly if the public knows what I really think?’ </p> <p>‘Of course we will find a way round these restrictions,’ said BBC political editor Nick Robinson, ‘in the future, whenever I refer to a Lib Dem, I will let the audience know by turning to camera and giving a little wink.’</p> <p>‘‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is a compromise,’ admitted Nick Clegg, ‘Thankfully, I don’t have too much of a problem because I already swing both ways.’ </p>