Author Archives: Sam Barnett

Sam Barnett

Opinion: Time to take back the initiative

By Sam Barnett | Fri 6th April 2012 - 10:55 am

The hard part of coalition is over. As the result in Bradford shows, three things are now true. Our Conservative colleagues have finally overreached themselves. Labour is now known to be as ineffective as it really is. And there is a howling void of dissatisfaction where our support used to be. The country has changed since 2010, and we must move to capture the mood, or we are done. Key to this is winning the votes of students, the young, and the disenfranchised.

We have, however we colour it, had a hard time. Most of our policy ‘wins’, like the …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | 17 Comments
Sam Barnett

Opinion: In the name of the Olympics

By Sam Barnett | Wed 4th January 2012 - 3:28 pm

With the summer 2012 drawing ever closer, it is no surprise that the amount of column inches devoted to the London Olympics is increasing. What has surprised me, though, has been how much of this coverage has been of the controversies that seem to be multiplying around the Games, and just what may be done in the name of the Olympics next year.

Flatly, I am worried that the Government is importing dodgy methods of event management to Stratford and the rest of London. The security measures recently announced are especially concerning. I hope no Liberal in Britain is reassured by …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 4 Comments
Sam Barnett

Opinion: Lib Dems should embrace the ‘Occupy’ spirit

By Sam Barnett | Mon 14th November 2011 - 12:20 pm

A small group of idealists, pitched up at a famous London landmark, arguing for radical change. Surrounded by hostile press trying to catch them out and making outlandish (or just plain false) accusations, they stay, grimly determined to make their voices heard by the public, the press and the powerful.

Yes, it’s Occupy London, but I could also be talking about the Parliamentary Liberal Democrats.

Maybe I’m naïve, but I see that we have more in common with Occupy than meets the eye. Let’s look at how our actions and beliefs match up with Occupy’s initial statement:

1. The current system is …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 39 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Graham Evans
    I've not much to add to the points made in the article, or in the comments already made. However the decisive test for a leader at this stage of the political c...
  • David Allen
    Let's analyse that Guardian leader: "The Tory economic pitch (tax cutting) is ... a clear bid to win back affluent southern voters. .... In the face of such ...
  • Roy Gregg
    Hi Sir Ed. Thanks for your service, but it's time for you to retire....
  • Roy Gregg
    Thanks Ed for your leadership of our party, but it's time for you to retire....
  • Nonconformistradical
    From David Sparrow's posting: "I agree now is not the time the only beneficiaries will be the Tories and Labour" I'll stick with the Guardian's viewpoint in...