Comments on: Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days? #5 http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eldoc http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36664 Eldoc Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:52:14 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36664 Definitely agree about Membership Services. Last year my membership expired and I didn't even know about it. I'd totally forgotten the renewal and I was sent no reminders at all. Realised about two months afterwards... Definitely agree about Membership Services. Last year my membership expired and I didn’t even know about it. I’d totally forgotten the renewal and I was sent no reminders at all. Realised about two months afterwards…

]]> By: Steve Comer http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36663 Steve Comer Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:39:53 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36663 Its all very well asking for 'USPs' but remember we have had them in the recent past. I turned a Labour majority of 36 in 2001 into a Liberal Democrat one of 592 in May 2005. So why was the general Election a help in '05 and a hindrance in '01? Well a lot of reasons, but mainly becuase to the public we had clearer policies in 2005. Four were particularly relevant in my part of east Bristol: 1) Axe the Council Tax 2) Scrap tuition fees 3) Opposition to the war in Iraq 4) A strong campaign against Post Office closures We need to anticipate which USPs we think will resonate in 2009/10, and hone these into messages which are easy to communicate. Localism? Green Taxes? Pupil premium? - all these and many others are contenders. Its all very well asking for ‘USPs’ but remember we have had them in the recent past. I turned a Labour majority of 36 in 2001 into a Liberal Democrat one of 592 in May 2005. So why was the general Election a help in ’05 and a hindrance in ’01?
Well a lot of reasons, but mainly becuase to the public we had clearer policies in 2005. Four were particularly relevant in my part of east Bristol:
1) Axe the Council Tax
2) Scrap tuition fees
3) Opposition to the war in Iraq
4) A strong campaign against Post Office closures

We need to anticipate which USPs we think will resonate in 2009/10, and hone these into messages which are easy to communicate.
Localism? Green Taxes? Pupil premium? – all these and many others are contenders.

]]> By: Paul Elgood http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36660 Paul Elgood Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:22:48 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36660 In presentation terms, I'd do a complete re-launch of the party - review the lot logo, colour, campaigning style etc. In policy terms, I'd develop far more radical policies and develop at least six USPs to give people something to vote for and which makes us distinctive - eg Chris against trident and Vince on Northern Rock. In presentation terms, I’d do a complete re-launch of the party – review the lot logo, colour, campaigning style etc.

In policy terms, I’d develop far more radical policies and develop at least six USPs to give people something to vote for and which makes us distinctive – eg Chris against trident and Vince on Northern Rock.

]]> By: Gordon http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36653 Gordon Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:35:23 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36653 Mark, You are absolutely right in every particular. A party that can’t run itself properly can hardly expect voters to trust it to run the country! Just one extra point: leaders rarely know when they have overstayed their welcome so there should be some mechanism that allows them to be clinically dumped by the Parliamentary party if and when that time comes. I was utterly appalled when Charles reportedly flirted with the idea of capitalising on his popularity in the wider party to go over the heads of the MPs who had lost confidence in his leadership and stand for re-election. Thankfully his good sense prevailed and he stood down but we can’t (and shouldn’t) rely on all future leaders to be so sensible. In a parliamentary system it is perfectly proper that the Party leader should at all times command the support of the majority of MPs and that the moment he/she ceases to do so he/she is out. The existing arrangements are basically presidential, but without the necessary checks and balances found in (for example) the American Constitution. Internal Party structures should be designed to make the party effective at winning and keeping power and so holding up our end of the political spectrum. At the moment they don’t. Mark,

You are absolutely right in every particular. A party that can’t run itself properly can hardly expect voters to trust it to run the country!

Just one extra point: leaders rarely know when they have overstayed their welcome so there should be some mechanism that allows them to be clinically dumped by the Parliamentary party if and when that time comes. I was utterly appalled when Charles reportedly flirted with the idea of capitalising on his popularity in the wider party to go over the heads of the MPs who had lost confidence in his leadership and stand for re-election.

Thankfully his good sense prevailed and he stood down but we can’t (and shouldn’t) rely on all future leaders to be so sensible. In a parliamentary system it is perfectly proper that the Party leader should at all times command the support of the majority of MPs and that the moment he/she ceases to do so he/she is out. The existing arrangements are basically presidential, but without the necessary checks and balances found in (for example) the American Constitution.

Internal Party structures should be designed to make the party effective at winning and keeping power and so holding up our end of the political spectrum. At the moment they don’t.

]]> By: Martin Land http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36647 Martin Land Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:07:26 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-what-should-the-new-leader-do-in-his-first-100-days-5-1859.html#comment-36647 1. Put Michael Meadowcroft in charge! Who better to lead a review than someone we all know, a proven campaigner, who can still see things objectively from the outside? 1. Put Michael Meadowcroft in charge! Who better to lead a review than someone we all know, a proven campaigner, who can still see things objectively from the outside?

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