Stephen Tall

CommentIsLinked@LDV: Nick Clegg – ‘Freedom is taking a battering under kneejerk New Labour’

By | Thu 11th December 2008 - 6:51 pm

Over at The Guardian’s Comment Is Free blog yesterday, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg wrote about Jack Straw’s attack on the Human Rights Act. (An issue which has also today provoked the ire of Lib Dem peer Lord Lester). Read it in full here, but here’s an excerpt of Nick’s trenchant critique:

The justice secretary is picking a meaningless fight to generate a favourable headline, while conning opponents of the Human Rights Act into believing that he’s saying something of greater significance. In short, it’s sly populism of the worst kind. …

At a time of acute national economic crisis, kneejerk populism from the government will inflame a culture of blame and vilification, fragmenting communities exactly when people need to hang together. Diversity and tolerance are easy to defend in the good times. The real test for political leaders is whether they’re prepared to defend them in bad times too.

Read more by .
This entry was posted in LibLink.
Advert

Post a Comment

Lib Dem Voice welcomes comments from everyone but we ask you to be polite, to be on topic and to be who you say you are. You can read our comments policy in full here. Please respect it and all readers of the site.

To have your photo next to your comment please signup your email address with Gravatar.

Your email is never published. Required fields are marked *

*
*
Please complete the name of this site, Liberal Democrat ...?

Advert

Recent Comments

  • PM
    Lib Dems could be a little bolder by actually discussing what goes on in the EU! Those who are in favour of rejoining should be prepared to do that https:/...
  • Jenny Barnes
    It suits those who benefit from immigrants providing cheap labour in areas like hospitality or the NHS to foreground small boats and asylum seekers, rather than...
  • Jenny Barnes
    NI is income tax by another name, so putting it together with income tax makes sense. NI is not put in a fund to pay future pensions. Today's pensions are paid ...
  • Jana
    @Ruth Bright “… just to be clear, I think we should SUPPORT the siting of the centre at MOD Bicester” I assume from this that you do not live near MOD...
  • Jana
    “ Personally, I’d go even bolder and promise to roll employee national insurance into income tax, scrapping the system where landlords and wealthier pension...