When Alastair Carmichael MP brought forward an emergency debate on the Conservatives' absence during Opposition Day motions, not only was the timing poor for reasons mentioned in previous articles, but it stank of sheer hypocrisy. There is no doubt that this is a substantial issue that needs to be discussed. In the event of a hung parliament, the House of Commons does not deserve to be "sidetracked" by the governing party.
Regardless of whether one agrees with lifting the pay cap on the public sector or freezing tuition fees, if opposition parties have managed to defeat the Government on these issues, these votes should not be sidelined as unofficial votes.
They represent profound setbacks for any government, regardless of who is in power, and deserve to be recognised as such. But for the Liberal Democrats to accuse the Tories of "undermining democracy" is sheer hypocrisy. Their double standards are nowhere more apparent than in their attempt to delay or even overthrow Brexit.
They treat voters like fools
Since 2010, they have demonstrated nothing but utter contempt towards the electorate. They fooled large portions of the population into believing they would scrap tuition fees and veto VAT rises if they became the governing party. Yet they knew they had no chance of fulfilling their radical aims under the First-Past-the-Post system the UK uses to elect its governments.
They were aware that the only way they could achieve power is by forming a coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives, both of whom wanted to increase tuition fees at the time. They treated voters like fools.
They have nothing left to stand for
Since the EU Referendum, they have viewed people as stupid. Under their former leader, Tim Farron, they reasserted themselves as the anti-Brexit party, claiming people were informed about what they were voting for.
This proves that they are neither liberal nor democratic. They fear that without EU membership, they have nothing left to stand for, given they are the most pro-European party in British Politics. Their stance has nothing to do with people's ignorance or protecting Britain's Single Market status. Last year's close result failed to inspire the 48 per cent of people who wanted to remain in the trading bloc to rally behind the Liberal Democrats.
It is doubtful Nick Clegg's new book will achieve the same outcome.
Their current leader, Vince Cable MP, stated last year that the free movement of people should end as a result of Brexit. Since gaining his position, he has conveniently forgotten he said that, until Andrew Marr reminded him. Power is more important than the will of the people to Mr. Cable.
When it comes to "undermining democracy", the Liberal Democrats are in no position to champion themselves as the democratic party.
