Author Archives: Roger Hayes and John Shreeve

I think we can agree that public confidence in our political system is at an all-time low. It comes to a pretty pass when Count Binface is considered to be a best alternative to a national party leader in a by-election, or that the party of government feels the need, mid parliament, to regularly change its leader (and our PM) supposedly for the benefit of all.

This sorry state of affairs has been growing, across the spectrum, for a long time of course as the desire of politicians to win replaced a desire to serve. Essentially its roots emanate from the Tory party as Thatcher moved our politics economically to a system built on free market deregulation and personal advantage. The result, after 40 mismanaged years, is a divided, fractured, unequal, angry society ripe for the populists to trigger. Where the targeting of a sleeping non-voter base has the capacity to change the political landscape entirely, from Brexit to the rise of the rabid-right.  Its little surprise then that after two wasted years from Labour, and the continuing Lib Dem obsession with winning based on quantity of activity rather than relevance of message that we are where we are. Strong in a core heartland, largely invisible everywhere else.

For the Social Liberal Forum, our approach up until now, has been to act as a platform for discussion and advocacy of Socially Liberal values. With events, fringe meetings and publications we have looked at economics, we have discussed the role of liberalism in a divided society, and some of our members have worked tirelessly to challenge and improve party policy. The aim of this being to encourage the party to adopt a more socially liberal stance.

We will always be campaigners, but being able to change lives at scale requires electoral success, without it it’s a slow and frustrating plod. But, with our effectiveness so localised and party strategy centred on weight of leaflets delivered, rather than a moral passion for a relevant national message across the country all that’s left for us to offer is a national party of independents in the guise of ‘Local Champions’.

The big question then is, if we really do see ourselves as a true national liberal party, has to be the creation of a ‘Clear Liberal Objective’. What is the Lib Dem Vision for the society we seek to create?  That when you vote Lib Dem you do so because our vision and moral passion inspires your support. We must be so much more than, ‘not the other party’! Why have we remained a substantially feudal society centred on perceptions of class and the desire for assets. Where is the vital importance of community and mutual support. Where is equality, freedom and community.