Thread by @mafevema

A deeply depressing letter sent by @DavidHallam in response to @guardian article urging Labour’s supporters to back the @LibDems in North Shropshire. It contains everything which makes people despair of British politics. 🧵

2/First the naked tribalism. Asking Labour voters to vote LD isn't asking them to vote "against their own party". A Tory loss (see @MartinKettle in the Guardian today) would deal a devastating blow to the Conservatives & would advance Labour's interests.

3/Conversely, a Conservative victory, particularly in the circumstances of this seat - Patterson's corruption, the Downing Street parties' scandal- will allow Johnson to reassert his "Teflon" authority on his MPs. How does this serve Labour's interests?

4/Then the argument that Labour has the best chances & "there is no informal agreement" (because of people like you) between the 2 parties.But Mr Hallam, with or without informal agreement, Labour voters are free to vote as they choose, for the best placed candidate.

5/Publishing unreliable canvassing polls doesn't detract from the fact that a local candidate supported by her party leadership stands a better (albeit slim) chance. You do not own Labour’s voters (to your obvious frustration) & we are not in a Stalinist regime.

6/Then the inevitable reference to the 2010 coalition. You ignore the fact that Labour bears a significant responsibility for the fact Clegg chose coalition with the Tories rather than Labour. A significant Labour faction (likely including you) was dead against a coalition.

7/There was exhaustion in Labour after 3 terms & Cameron won more votes than Brown.The LD were stuck between two bad choices. There is no guarantee that a coalition with Labour headed by a famously uncollaborative PM would have worked. But above all, you pick a single exemple

8/which suits your purpose. There were many successful LD/Labour alliances in the past. In 1906 Labour formed a non-aggression pact with the Liberals to make its first serious breakthrough into parliament. In the 1920s Labour governments were only formed with Liberal support.

9/In 1945, Labour was only able to commission the Beveridge report with Liberal support.Facing a motion of no-confidence & with no parliamentary majority, in March 1977 the Labour government of Callaghan formed a C&S agreement with the Liberal Party,known as the Lib-Lab Pact.

10/Selective history is bad faith. It is also dangerous. Your Labour faction has -again & again- allowed Conservative victories, stopped a new kind of collaborative politics, electoral reform & thinks there is no virtue in dialogue. Sad & defeatist.

Apparently I tagged the wrong David Hallam. Apologies @davidhallam . I should have tagged @DJAHallam

Please untag poor David Hallam from your replies. Thanks!