SIR MING THE MERCIFUL

“There is no single hurdle ahead for Sir Menzies to jump, just a long slog to clarify and refine what he is aiming for. Yesterday’s speech [at the Liberal Democrat conference] saw him move forward and he will be pleased enough with that.” Editorial, The Guardian, Friday, September 22nd 2006.

Sir Ming the merciful, lord of some things he surveys
has seen off Flash Charlie and his hard-drinking ways.
He may have promised salvation
with a quick cut in taxation
but his legacy’s dampened by the heaps of faint praise.

Sir Ming the merciful, the play-it-safe boss
of New Liberal Democracy, won’t make anyone cross.
If they’d hoped for a tyrant
or someone vaguely aspirant
they’d have stuck with Flash Charlie, despite his love of the sauce.

Sir Ming the merciful runs an empire of dust
and both Brown and Cameron will pick off the rust.
He’s recharged the Lib Dem battery
but it’ll take more than vague flattery
to give three party politics some much-needed thrust.