Author Archives: Alex Smethurst

Opinion: The green centre ground

By Alex Smethurst | Thu 16th May 2013 - 2:12 pm

Since the Coalition was formed we have lost the impetus with the green agenda. Around two fifths of Lib Dem voters from 2010 have switched to Labour or the Green Party. In Bristol, we sadly lost two ward seats to the Greens in this year’s local elections. By ‘greening’ our liberal, democratic and social reforms we are most likely to achieve our desired goal of a stronger economy in a fairer society.

That is why I welcome the Green Liberal Democrats Conference, taking place in Bristol on 15th June. The Conference can prove to environmentalists how we are …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged green liberal democrats | 22 Comments

Opinion: Land is theft

By Alex Smethurst | Tue 18th December 2012 - 11:15 am

In ‘Why Wealth can’t be Taxed’ it was alleged that a mansion tax is illiberal. However, as a liberal, I am concerned for the state of the property market in the UK. The average age of the first time buyer is now 35.

Housing is a policy that has been forgotten, with health and education becoming the areas of priority. However as liberals, we can address the state of housing through taxation, for I would say that ‘land is theft’. There is too much concentration of power in the hands of the few. Land Value Taxation is a key to addressing this.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged land value tax | 34 Comments

Opinion: What’s wrong with the Welfare State?

By Alex Smethurst | Mon 23rd July 2012 - 1:53 pm

Last Saturday the Social Liberal Forum met for its 2012 conference. Being in a centre-right Coalition with the Conservatives has not lead to an abandonment of our centre-left principles. Our achievements in Government represent a broader party ethos of our social democratic belief in the Welfare State. However, instead of evolving with the times, the Welfare State stands rigid and unreflective of the world we live in today. For example, our nation is getting older: 10 million people in the UK

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged orange book and welfare | 9 Comments

Opinion: The myth of the referendum convention

By Alex Smethurst | Tue 17th July 2012 - 12:41 pm

All three major parties committed to Lords Reform in their 2010 General Election manifestos, however Labour promised an elected Second Chamber via a referendum. This explains why Labour MPs dragged their heels during the Second Reading of the Lords Reform Bill, though a cynic may suggest that Labour did so not as its job as Opposition but because of a more insidious agenda to break up the Coalition. Nevertheless, Labour profess that their opposition stems from a belief that ‘constitutional convention’ requires that the Bill must include a …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged constitutional reform, house of lords, House of Lords referendum and lords reform | 13 Comments

Opinion: Lords reform – the lies & lessons from the AV referendum

By Alex Smethurst | Mon 16th July 2012 - 10:23 am

I invite you to join me in a thought experiment. Let’s imagine Lords Reform has been passed as an Act. But let’s also imagine the Act includes a commitment to a referendum…

A Lords Reform referendum will be perceived as a Liberal Democrat ‘fix’, much like the AV referendum. This perceived fix, in the eyes of the electorate, is personified, regrettably, in Nick Clegg. According to UK Polling Report, Clegg’s

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged constitutional reform, house of lords and lords reform | 15 Comments

Opinion: Internships – a foot in the door, with a new glass ceiling

By Alex Smethurst | Tue 3rd July 2012 - 5:10 pm

Nick Clegg has admitted that his previous pledge to pay interns working for the Party will be broken. And yet, one of the defining ambitions of the Liberal Democrats, found in the Foreword to The Coalition Agreement, is to increase social mobility. Having experience from six unpaid internships, social mobility is one area that I highlight for supporting the Party. Yet it’s in danger of becoming part of Newspeak: for without money to back up the rhetoric, our Party is in danger of yet again offering an empty promise.

Social mobility and paid internships are connected. But I’m concerned …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged internships | 25 Comments

Social mobility: is the Coalition doing enough to encourage it?

Stephen Tall asks: "Did Nate Silver write in vain?"

Nick Clegg: "Of course the EU has to change"

"Mad, swivel-eyed loons": a top Tory on the Tories

Author Archives: Alex Smethurst

Opinion: The green centre ground

Opinion: Land is theft

Opinion: What’s wrong with the Welfare State?

Opinion: The myth of the referendum convention

Opinion: Lords reform – the lies & lessons from the AV referendum

Opinion: Internships – a foot in the door, with a new glass ceiling

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Social mobility: is the Coalition doing enough to encourage it?

Stephen Tall asks: "Did Nate Silver write in vain?"

Nick Clegg: "Of course the EU has to change"

"Mad, swivel-eyed loons": a top Tory on the Tories

Author Archives: Alex Smethurst

Opinion: The green centre ground

Opinion: Land is theft

Opinion: What’s wrong with the Welfare State?

Opinion: The myth of the referendum convention

Opinion: Lords reform – the lies & lessons from the AV referendum

Opinion: Internships – a foot in the door, with a new glass ceiling

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