Author Archives: Bill Fowler

Vince Cable, the next PM?

 

As a fan of Mrs Thatcher it might seem odd that I have just joined the Liberal Democrats. However times change, hard right policies are more likely to drive the large number of people depending on in-work benefits or working in the government into the hands of Mr Corbyn.  Labour, who shout loudly about democratic mandates, are likely to have another go at bankrupting the country as well as bring democracy into disrepute by promising endless giveaways.

The worst possible case for the UK is to have a Labour government and be outside the EU. Labour want out of EU because they can then rape and pillage the slightly rich – anyone who cannot bite back. Given the pasting that the EU gets from our press it is actually surprising that, as far as citizens’ rights go, it actually does work – and seems to be improving in many areas. It would be ironical if Brexit forces them to reform further in the interests of its citizens rather than its bureaucrats.

I would probably have not joined up had not Vince Cable become leader; he at least talks some reasonable sense – most of the time. Now he has the amusing task of saving the country from itself. The current fickleness of the British voting public means just about anything is possible but it will mean swallowing some liberal pride to get there. Looking from the outside, there is one little trick that might placate half the Brexiteers and that is a very strict residence test before there is any access to benefits, social housing, in-work benefits and possibly the personal tax allowance. By strict I mean at least five years…

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , , , and | 101 Comments
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    for those 'Patriotic Millionaires' who wish to give money to the state , its really easy: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/voluntary-payments-donations-to-governmen...
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    Today in a by-election in Milton Keynes electors have received five letters from Reform via Royal Mail, at an estimated cost of £20,000. As there is no mention...
  • Tristan Ward
    We need to broaden how we define investment to recognise the value of people and skills." I think we need to redefine "capital" to include intellectual capit...
  • David Murray
    Hi Tanya, glad to see that you are organising a fringe on the Monday evening at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Sadly, I can't attend Conference in person, but am ...
  • Tanya Park
    @Jana, my apologies if it's not clear, but when I say capping donations in this piece, I'm referring to donations to political parties, not to charities. As...