Author Archives: Mark Valentine

Opinion: Starting from ‘the Other Place’

 

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.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged | 15 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Pawel Urbanski
    Much-needed piece. You are right that young people are the audience, but I am not sure Europe is the way in. The polling you quote shows they already agree with...
  • Pawel Urbanski
    Strong argument, and I agree with the direction. A couple of thoughts from someone who runs small shops. For me, deadweight loss is not a foreign concept. It is...
  • Truthspeak
    Of course ,it should be gotten rid of. Cromwell was a tyrant, a brute and a disgrace for any nation,in any age. The articlee excellently covered the full breadt...
  • Jeff
    Jana 6th Nov '26 - 6:23pm: Meanwhile, Germany was at 4.2% in June 2016, and now sits at 6.4%. And expected to rise further… ‘German emp...
  • Nonconformistradical
    @Jana Not all of them could be deported. Some may be going through legal proceedings and some countries do not take their nationals back. https://www.depo...