- The Guardian,
- Article history
After election drubbing the Lib Dems are likely to get more vocal on policies where they don't agree with their coalition partner. Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian
The Liberal Democrats are heading for their first coalition showdown with the Tories since last week's elections in the House of Lords when they will mount an attempt to delay the introduction of elected police commissioners.
The move will be the first material test of the Lib Dems' weekend promise to be a "louder voice in government" after last week's disastrous election results.
It comes as Nick Clegg is due to reaffirm his party's support for refugees and asylum seekers. In a speech at the Refugee Council's 60th anniversary celebrations, Clegg is to argue that "Liberals, progressives and true patriots" must reclaim Britishness and not surrender its meaning to "bigots and xenophobes like the BNP".
The deputy prime minister is also to criticise the "constant hum of cheap populism" from politicians of right and left and parts of the media that vilifies refugees and paints asylum seekers as a threat to the country.
Labour have made clear they will back Lib Dem amendments to the police bill in the Lords that seek to delay the first elections for police commissioners due next May by calling for their introduction to be piloted in up to six police force areas first.
The home secretary, Theresa May, slapped down the Lib Dems' home affairs spokesman, Tom Brake, who backed the demand for pilots and argued that stronger "robust checks and balances" were needed to ensure that the commissioners did not interfere in operational police matters.
She said the new police and crime commissioners would be introduced in every police force across England and Wales outside London next May.
The move follows mounting concern from senior police officers, including the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, over the threat to their operational independence posed by elected commissioners.Continued
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