Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith has launched a scathing attack on the Liberal Democrats, condemning their policies as “extremist” during a series of media appearances in London. His comments followed a stint on the BBC One current affairs programme, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, and an interview on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Griffith's concerns were particularly focused on the detrimental impact of policies introduced by the Liberal Democrats in local councils. He specifically highlighted the promotion of veganism and the advocacy for a four-day work week, which he believes undermine the interests of local communities. He stated, "When the Liberal Democrats gain control, they push these extreme agendas like veganism and four-day work weeks that only serve to alienate ordinary residents."

With local elections looming, Griffith emphasized the potential for synergies between Conservative and like-minded parties, expressing that coalition decisions should ultimately be made by the elected local councillors. He reiterated this point during his exchange with Phillips, urging voters to back Conservative candidates to preserve traditional values within local governance.

When pressed by Laura Kuenssberg about whether the Conservative Party should cut ties with such parties, Griffith asserted, "The Liberal Democrats are quite extremist. They impose their radical lifestyle choices whenever they gain power, such as promoting four-day weeks and a vegan agenda." He indicated that cooperation with allies aligned with core conservative principles should remain flexible, depending on election outcomes.

His jabs at the Liberal Democrats' vegan initiatives prompted a bemused response from Kuenssberg, who questioned his broad characterisation. Griffith humorously dismissed the legitimacy of their food choices, claiming there are “too many” vegans in the party—an attempt to showcase the disconnect between the Liberal Democrats and mainstream voters.

In response, a Liberal Democrat source described Griffith’s comments as “bizarre” and “frankly a bit weird,” noting that his tenure as Treasury minister under Liz Truss coincided with massive economic turmoil that left many citizens struggling financially. They remarked critically, "Voters haven’t forgotten the chaos caused by the Conservative Party; outlandish comments like these will do little to win back trust."

As local elections draw near, the debate surrounding party policies and coalition strategies is set to heat up, with Griffith’s statements making it clear that Conservative strategies must stand in stark contrast to the misguided priorities of their opponents. The priorities for communities must reflect the core values of hard-working British citizens rather than the radical agendas of the Liberal Democrats.

Source: Noah Wire Services