Comments on: Nick Clegg: Together, we can build Britain’s liberal future

By: Tom Papworth

Tom Papworth — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:31:31 +0000

Nah. Just some stuff about the Lib Dems.

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:18:52 +0000

I haven’t even read the article. Is it any good?

By: Tom Papworth

Tom Papworth — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:45:10 +0000

Okay… So, there was this chap called Clegg, and he was talking about the future, and then the queen came along with an elephant and now I’ve totally forgotten what this article was all about!

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:20:59 +0000

* suspects his beady little Elephantine eyes have been on this post already, but his HUGE MODESTY has prevented him from commenting thus far *

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:10:10 +0000

We’d better break it to Millennium first, though I’m sure he would be delighted.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:13:04 +0000

A plan with no drawbacks! So, are you going to break it to her maj, or shall I?

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:52:08 +0000

There would always be one of his daddies on hand.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:06:11 +0000

That’s true! Can he hold a pair of scissors in his fluffy foot, though?

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:56:41 +0000

How about Millennium Elephant? I’m sure the whole nation could unite behind Millennium.

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:50:33 +0000

Because rubber ducks can’t smile. Or cut ribbons.

And if we had an elected HoS, not only would it cost money, but there would be a chance, however small, of Jade Goody becoming HoS. As it stands, that’s not possible.

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:46:23 +0000

Why don’t we just go for a rubber duck? Seriously?

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:35:17 +0000

A south London school, eh? So “outside Westminster” doesn’t mean “outside the area covered by TFL”, then? [/uncharitability]

Laurence, I agree, lets have a referendum on the monarchy, and then you can lose it. Bloody republicans. To paraphrase old Winny: Constitutional Monarchy is the worst system, apart from all the others. By all means divest her maj of what remaining meagre powers she has, but if you’re going to have a ceremonial head of state you might as well have a hereditary one and save the money of an election.

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:49:55 +0000

The name’s Boyce. Laurence Boyce. But not on Her Majesty’s secret service.

By: Anthony Wright

Anthony Wright — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:09:54 +0000

Liberalism has to be about tolerance of diversity, so long as that is not anti-social. But it must not be about tolerance of intolerance and bigotry, whether political, religious, or cultural. How do the LibDems propose to face up to that issue, which is not currently being tackled by either of the larger parties?

By: Tom Papworth

Tom Papworth — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:49:13 +0000

Diversity,

I agree that we need to shed this Left-Right nonsense that plays into the hands of those who want to make out that our system is naturally two-party and that the Lib Dems are merely a toned-down version of one of the others.

As for the monarchy, I’m sure even Laurance isn’t suggesting an elective presidency (is he?)!

By: Diversity

Diversity — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:41:19 +0000

Come on Nick. Make these LibDem Voice people (or whoever designs their polls)wake up! One reason the old parties are losing their grip is that they see themselves on the ancient left-right political spectrum. Britain divides much more clearly nowadays on a front to back spectrum – liberal to authoritarian. The centre of that is where liberal Consevatives, less authoritarian Labour and more traditionalist LibDems meet. For an absolute majority under first past the post we probably need to occupy the centre as well as the front, but with the front alone we could be at well over 100 seats. What price then the natural coalition for authority, Labour with Tory?

PS to Laurence Boyle. Certainly monarchy is absurd in any modern democracy. The trouble is it just works better, feels better and probably costs no more than any Presidential option on offer.

By: Laurence Boyce

Laurence Boyce — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:30:12 +0000

I’m really just talking about any conceivable excuse to put the boot into the Monarchy.

By: Tom Papworth

Tom Papworth — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:49:23 +0000

followed by a visit to the Royal palaces to point out the obscene profligacy.

Are you talking about the waste of public money or private money? The former is merely an excuse for abolishing the civil list, while the latter is a private matter that is none of our business.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:40:51 +0000

At last a party leader willing to own up to being a secularist. A bit of a worry he still thinks it politic to espouse the ‘respect’ agenda for “belief” in mediaeval mumbo-jumbo, but so it goes. As long as you don’t let your social policies be influenced by any of the sky-father misogynies,I will support you.

By: The anti-Clegg

The anti-Clegg — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:09:58 +0000

“Brian Eno joined me there and I am delighted that he has agreed to be my advisor on engaging with young people”

Does Clegg realise Brian Eno is pushing 60!