Comments on: Launch: Engage, the new Lib Dem Policy Network http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:09:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: fdp100 http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-95471 fdp100 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:45:37 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-95471 Tony Greaves has fought more elections than most of us have had hot dinners, so take note of what he says - even if you don't agree. I support Engage, but let us treat Local as the internet rather than a geographical thing. Be geographically local as well, but we need 'experts' on this to guide us. Let us start all debates from the following premis:- 'This Country has had 30 years of Thatcherite social (no such thing as society) and economic (loadsamoney) policies. only the Liberal Democrats - - - - - - ' With politics in such a state of flux and disrepute now could not be a better time to develop new radical policies. Tony Greaves has fought more elections than most of us have had hot dinners, so take note of what he says – even if you don’t agree.
I support Engage, but let us treat Local as the internet rather than a geographical thing. Be geographically local as well, but we need ‘experts’ on this to guide us.
Let us start all debates from the following premis:- ‘This Country has had 30 years of Thatcherite social (no such thing as society) and economic (loadsamoney) policies. only the Liberal Democrats – - – - – - ‘
With politics in such a state of flux and disrepute now could not be a better time to develop new radical policies.

]]> By: Biodiesel http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94509 Biodiesel Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:30:21 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94509 Yes, I have run a Policy Forum both in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks and this is an excellent idea. People usually join a political party because they are interested in politics, not always to be an unpaid postman. Well done Jeremy. As local membership officer in T Wells I send a welcome e-mail to all new and moved members and invite them along to meetings. Clearly this is unfortunately not happening in all local parties, judging by some of the above comments. Yes, I have run a Policy Forum both in Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks and this is an excellent idea. People usually join a political party because they are interested in politics, not always to be an unpaid postman. Well done Jeremy. As local membership officer in T Wells I send a welcome e-mail to all new and moved members and invite them along to meetings. Clearly this is unfortunately not happening in all local parties, judging by some of the above comments.

]]> By: Cogload http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94500 Cogload Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:33:56 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94500 I also joined the party not so long ago and nary a peep has been heard from the locals either. I also joined the party not so long ago and nary a peep has been heard from the locals either.

]]> By: Simon R. http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94494 Simon R. Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:36:54 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94494 I also heartily agree with geoffrey. A great initiative and best of luck to those promoting it. I also heartily agree with geoffrey. A great initiative and best of luck to those promoting it.

]]> By: Fred Behr http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94492 Fred Behr Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:22:23 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94492 I joined the party about a month ago and not a peep from my local party. I have sent an e-mail direct and filled the form thingy on the party's website. They must have a bountiful supply of local volunteers already... I will no doubt "Engage" with them in due course. The Engage Policy Network sounds ideal for a newbie like me but I do see the risk of it being taken over by a faction within the party - "The Engage Group" anyone? Regards I joined the party about a month ago and not a peep from my local party. I have sent an e-mail direct and filled the form thingy on the party’s website. They must have a bountiful supply of local volunteers already…

I will no doubt “Engage” with them in due course.

The Engage Policy Network sounds ideal for a newbie like me but I do see the risk of it being taken over by a faction within the party – “The Engage Group” anyone?

Regards

]]> By: Geoffrey Payne http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94487 Geoffrey Payne Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:27:49 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94487 This is one of my rare disagreements with Tony Greaves. I organise political discussion where I live and one of the challenges is to find good speakers. There are plenty around, but often they are busy and cannot come, or they have to cancel at short notice. Any initiative that makes it easier for me and give me more options to invite someone, the better. Any opportunity I have to learn from how others how they do this, the better. I see this group as an important resource. More importantly, I see it as an important initiative to try to repoliticise the party. We need to encourage members to be interested in our politics, not so that they are happy with the sattus quo, but that they also become impatient to want to move things along a bit more, maybe even make changes. The only scandal here is that it didn't happen a long time ago, but well done for those who are doing so now. This is one of my rare disagreements with Tony Greaves.
I organise political discussion where I live and one of the challenges is to find good speakers. There are plenty around, but often they are busy and cannot come, or they have to cancel at short notice. Any initiative that makes it easier for me and give me more options to invite someone, the better. Any opportunity I have to learn from how others how they do this, the better.
I see this group as an important resource.
More importantly, I see it as an important initiative to try to repoliticise the party. We need to encourage members to be interested in our politics, not so that they are happy with the sattus quo, but that they also become impatient to want to move things along a bit more, maybe even make changes.
The only scandal here is that it didn’t happen a long time ago, but well done for those who are doing so now.

]]> By: John http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94484 John Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:29:08 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94484 Too many references to too many other sites. This needs simplification. Where do we start? Too many references to too many other sites. This needs simplification.

Where do we start?

]]> By: Andrew Davis http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94483 Andrew Davis Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:38:36 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94483 disagreement in the party have been actively discouraged and hopefully this will help the movement to change that. If I had any reservations about it, then the fact that Tony Greaves is against it would have resolved them! It is entirely typical of him that after spending years arguing for more open discussion in the party, when something comes along which rather than just complaining might actually do that, he is against it! disagreement in the party have been actively discouraged and hopefully this will help the movement to change that.

If I had any reservations about it, then the fact that Tony Greaves is against it would have resolved them! It is entirely typical of him that after spending years arguing for more open discussion in the party, when something comes along which rather than just complaining might actually do that, he is against it!

]]> By: Tony Greaves http://www.libdemvoice.org/launch-engage-the-new-lib-dem-policy-network-15622.html#comment-94482 Tony Greaves Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:47:10 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15622#comment-94482 Forgive me if I suggest that the word "Engage" gives the game away. This looks, sounds and feels like New Labour type "engagement" - let them discuss things but let's make sure it's all carefully structured and managed so it doesn't cause any ripples, and it allows us to snuff out anything we think is a bit dangerous. Above all, let's not have anything the media might report as a "row" or even worse a "challenge to the leader's authority". The truth is that this will all be a damp squib. If you want proper policy debate you have to open up the structures of the party to democratic argument and conflict, allow it to happen, end the usual cowardly tactic of retreating behind the leader's reputation, and say boo to the media. Even more important, people who want to see it happen should stop trying to organise soft discussion of this kind and go out and organise factions in the party and camapign for what they believe in an open and honest way. Of course all this is anathema to the managerialist anti-political and undemocratic approach which has taken over most of the party at top levels, where campaigning for what we believe in has been sidelined in favour of narrow vote-catching, and even that has more and more been seriously restricted to no more than a sixth of the constituencies. Policy-making is too often no longer about what we believe but it's about what will "play well" in those target seats (and even more so in the seats we hold). Of course, as a member of the House of Lords I don't have to play these games, and I have neither the time nor energy any longer to try to do anything about the state of the party as a whole. But it's all rather sad and in the longer run will do us no good. Tony Greaves Forgive me if I suggest that the word “Engage” gives the game away. This looks, sounds and feels like New Labour type “engagement” – let them discuss things but let’s make sure it’s all carefully structured and managed so it doesn’t cause any ripples, and it allows us to snuff out anything we think is a bit dangerous. Above all, let’s not have anything the media might report as a “row” or even worse a “challenge to the leader’s authority”.

The truth is that this will all be a damp squib. If you want proper policy debate you have to open up the structures of the party to democratic argument and conflict, allow it to happen, end the usual cowardly tactic of retreating behind the leader’s reputation, and say boo to the media. Even more important, people who want to see it happen should stop trying to organise soft discussion of this kind and go out and organise factions in the party and camapign for what they believe in an open and honest way.

Of course all this is anathema to the managerialist anti-political and undemocratic approach which has taken over most of the party at top levels, where campaigning for what we believe in has been sidelined in favour of narrow vote-catching, and even that has more and more been seriously restricted to no more than a sixth of the constituencies. Policy-making is too often no longer about what we believe but it’s about what will “play well” in those target seats (and even more so in the seats we hold).

Of course, as a member of the House of Lords I don’t have to play these games, and I have neither the time nor energy any longer to try to do anything about the state of the party as a whole. But it’s all rather sad and in the longer run will do us no good.

Tony Greaves

]]>