Author Archives: Mark Valentine

Mark Valentine

Opinion: Starting from ‘the Other Place’

By Mark Valentine | Mon 11th May 2015 - 3:50 pm

 

Where can the Liberal Democrats start to rebuild? How can they reassert their identity as a party with a distinctive philosophy? How do they remind voters that they can make a real difference? The answers can in part be found in an unexpected place.

It’s worth remembering that there are two Houses in Parliament. And, treating cross-benchers as neutral, the House of Lords now has an opposition majority of something like 90-100. Every single piece of legislation that Mr Cameron wants to introduce will not only have to negotiate his own wafer-thin majority in the Commons, but this hurdle in what MPs call “the other place” too.

Here’s where the 101 Liberal Democrat peers can make a difference. Now they are no longer shackled to the compromises of coalition, they can act entirely on the basis of liberal and social democratic principles. They can also be watchdogs for the “one nation” principle that Mr Cameron says he wants to honour.

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 15 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Ruth Bright
    Supreme irony that one of the commenters here about diversity at conference mortified me at a conference of yore by drawing attention to the fact that I was alw...
  • Michael Bukola
    Its a very special responsibility being a custodian for the event and we appreciate your service immensely..thank you...
  • Rebecca Taylor
    Glad to see the accessibility, financial and other being raised. It really isn't good enough. I was excluded from conference when my son was very young as t...
  • James Brough
    Well, that's a damned shame. She'll be remembered as someone who stood up for people who needed it. Sadly, that's more than you can say for many MP's. Whoever s...
  • Suzanne Fletcher
    I have no idea as to what has been happening locally, but very sorry to hear this....