NEWS: Is the Double-dip Recession the Nail in the Coffin of Coalition’s Economic Strategy?

Voters are steadily coming to the conclusion that a Coalition Government built on economic fear-mongering during the last election, is not the solution to Britain’s problems. The Conservatives make no apologies for the hard and fast cuts they continue to make. Up until now the electorate has indulged voluntary hardship believing that the Conservative strategy – which they were told was essential and unavoidable – would take the UK to a better financial place. The Liberal Democrats staked the alienation of many of their voters on this economic strategy also, reneging on their election pledges to form an unpopular coalition, whose purpose was sold as coming together to solve the country’s financial problems.

It was reported today that the UK economy is now officially in a double-dip recession. This was exactly the outcome David Cameron had used to put fear into voters during the election – indicating that five further years of Labour economic strategy would ensure such a situation. The Coalition’s strategies, two years into their term in office, seem not to have been the solution voters were hoping for. Many believe that the cuts are ideological, unnecessary and have in fact brought about the double-dip recession that many economists have been warning the public about. This leaves the Conservatives manacled to a strategy that they refuse to abandon or modify but that clearly isn’t working. Most voters would not unreasonably expect to see some glimmer of hope on the horizon by now – the government’s term is only five years long, after all.

As for the Liberal Democrats, it seems that their justification for joining the coalition – which has damaged them so greatly – has now turned out to be worthless. Labour, on the other hand, are remaining far too quiet on the economy for many people. They are seen by many in the electorate to not only be responsible (fully or partly, depending upon which economist you consult) for the financial problems the country is facing. To make matters worse, they are not advocating - with any volume or conviction - an alternative winning strategy. For many, it is simply too soon after the previous government to trust Labour with Britain’s finances. All in all, this paints a bleak picture for voters. They are confronted with three political parties who tell you that the economy is a crucial issue but do not know how to address the country’s big financial problems (but still want your vote!)

If the MPs in the three main political parties are not part of the solution, then they are part of the problem. The only alternative that voters have is to put their trust in a greater number of Independent candidates and representatives from Minor Parties. These candidates would still represent the spectrum of political views in our country, but would be more willing to establish a dialogue in which a myriad of solutions is properly discussed, examined and implemented. A future economic strategy - a thoughtful approach that will make and keep Britain prosperous – is much more likely to be found by such a gathering than the ideologically motivated machinations of the three major political parties, who convince themselves – as well as the electorate – of the need for the unnecessary.