On Saturday I travelled down to London to attend the Compass and Progressive Economy Forum’s Change: NOW! Conference, which brought together around 700 people from across the progressive spectrum for what felt like a serious and timely conversation about the future of politics in Britain.
In an age of deep political fragmentation, rising populism and the growing threat posed by Nigel Farage and Reform UK there was something very refreshing about spending a day at an event where people were prepared to engage with those beyond their own political tribe.
Speakers included Caroline Lucas, Vince Cable, Zack Polanski, Clive Lewis MP, Stella Creasy MP, the economist Gary Stevenson, Author and Observer columnist Will Hutton, and many more, representing a broad range of traditions, perspectives, and experiences.
One contribution in particular stayed with me.
Lib Dem MP for the South Cotswolds Roz Savage argued powerfully that “no one political party has a monopoly on good ideas.” It is an observation that sounds obvious when stated aloud, yet too much of modern politics is conducted ax though the opposite were true. Too often parties, including our own, retreat into their own comfort zones, convinced that wisdom begins and ends with those wearing the same colour rosette.
Savage went further. It is not enough, she suggested, to simply describe themselves as pluralists. We have to demonstrate pluralism in practice. We have to show voters that we are capable of working with those with whom we do not agree on everything in pursuit of outcomes that improve people’s lives.
As Liberal Democrats we should be particularly comfortable with that argument because we already do it every day in local government. Across the country, Lib Dems are serving in shared administrations with Councillors from other parties. We understand that politics isn’t an academic exercise or a social media performance. It is about governing, delivering services and improving communities. That often requires compromise, maturity and a willingness to recognise good ideas wherever they originate.
One current example is Southwark, where the new Green-Liberal Democrat administration is seeking to provide exactly that kind of collaborative leadership. I warmly welcome the appointment of the always excellent Victor Chamberlain as Deputy Council Leader and wish him and his colleagues every success. Their executive reflects a reality that many in Westminster and Whitehall still seem very reluctant to acknowledge: where progressives agree, we not only can work together but, more often than not, should to the benefit of the people we seek to serve.
None of this requires anyone to abandon their political identity. It does not mean pretending there are no differences between Lib Dems, Greens, and Labour, of course there are, many, and they matter. But if we genuinely believe there is a progressive majority in this country, as polls would suggest that there is, then we must be prepared, in a grown-up, mature, genuinely pluralist way, to demonstrate that in action, not just proclaim it in fine words and tub-thumping speeches.
Because defeating the politics of division and hate will require something more than tribal loyalty. It will require cooperation, confidence, and courage to find common ground and, together, build a Good Society.
Let’s do it!
Pride Still Matters – Perhaps More Than Ever
As Pride Month begins today, it is worth remembering that Pride was never simply a celebration or a party. It was, and remains, a statement: that LGBT+ people deserve dignity, equality, safety, and respect.
This year that message feels particularly important. In recent weeks, the debate surrounding the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s updated guidance has once again exposed just how fragile progress can be. Many LGBT+ campaigners, including voices within our party, have raised serious concerns that the revised guidance risks making life harder for trans people and creating further barriers to inclusion. I therefore welcome the Lib Dems’ criticism of the EHRC’s approach and the party’s continued willingness to speak up when others appear hesitant.
At times in recent months, both Labour and the Tories have seemed more interested in following culture war politics than standing firmly for LGBT+ equality. Too often, vulnerable minorities become convenient political footballs.
We Liberal Democrats must never fall into that trap. Our party has a proud history of championing LGBT+ rights long before doing so was politically fashionable. From leading on abolishing the vile and discriminatory Section 28 (thanks Ed Davey) to making same sex marriage the law of this land (thanks Lynne Featherstone), liberalism at its best recognises a simple truth: that every individual deserves the freedom to live openly and authentically.
As Pride Month begins, that principle matters as much as ever before. Because equality and justice are not things that can be taken for granted. It must be defended, renewed, and advanced.
And Liberal Democrats must always and will always be proud to stand firmly on the side of LGBT+ dignity, equality and human rights.
Happy Pride!
A year of Mathew on Monday
My Facebook memories recently reminded me that I’ve been writing this column for a year… would you believe it?! A huge thank you to everyone who has read, shared, challenged, and engaged with these weekly reflections.
Particular thanks must go to my regular editor Mark and LDV’s overall editor Caron for their encouragement, patience and support.
It remains a genuine delight, almost every Monday, to contribute to an online publication that sits at ths very heart of Liberal Democrat debate. Long may it continue.
Here’s to the next twelve months of discussing our party, our country, and the liberal and democratic future we want to build together.
Cheers!
* Mathew Hulbert is a former Councillor, is a regular commentator on TV and Radio, and is Co-Host of the Political Frenemies podcast.
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13 Comments
If we’re to prevent a Reform-led government, then parties of the progressive centre-left are going to need to work together. As Matthew points out, at a local government level this is completely normal and uncontroversial. The greatest roadblock to this historically, has been the tribalism of the Labour Party. There have been some interesting overtures from Team Burnham over recent days, and surveys of Labour membership do reveal a general openness to working together across progressive party lines.
T he Greens are our main threat, but yet again here we are mixing with redneck dangerous Polanski, will we never learn.
An excellent article except for the “Growing threat” from Reform. It’s true that Reform are currently about 1% up on their position before The Local Elections but that followed 7 Months of steady decline. Of course Reform may win in Makerfield & would no doubt get a temporary boost from that but long-term they will decline again.
Reform are largely a single issue Party & that issue is Immigration, currently in precipitous decline – a fall of more than four fifths in less than 3 Years.
“The Greens are our main threat…….”
This will be true if, by “our”, you mean the threat to the Lib Dem vote.
But, it won’t be true if, by “our”, you mean the wider threat to us all.
Because we are seen by Voters as a Centrist Party we have a wide spread of Rivals including The Greens, Labour & The Conservatives in England. We have been focused on The Conservatives at a National level & if Reforms long-term decline continues then The Conservatives will revive & threaten our new MPs.
At the grass roots our big threat is not another Party but Age. We are an aging Party & we are failing to attract Young Members or Voters.
The solution is to copy The Greens – say what we think clearly & bravely.
Referring to the Lib Dem vote.
Might I recommend we all read Con Home comments after the Swansea result, morale in that party really low.
I don’t think the ‘unite everyone who isn’t Reform’ idea is practical, desirable, or attractive. I don’t see any desire from Labour to work with any other party (let alone the LDs!) The Greens are becoming just as populist as Reform – and this will accelerate as the Momentum Brigade push out the older, ecology based, members.
@Robert Parry. It would seem that we are, at last seeing a reallignment in our party political system. Where that will lead us when the music stops is very hard to predict, and until that moment comes it is hard to know what our response will be, because we don’t even know who we will be in a few years time.
Reform have clearly eaten the right of the Conservative party. Whether what is left, including the One Nation rump, can survive as a significant force remains an open question. If the Greens become a proper left wing, Momentum inspired party and whether the more ecology focused Greens can put up with that or find an alternative home, all impacts on our future prospects. Can I suggest that it is the survival of political ideas, rather than the parties themselves that matters. The liberal instinct exists in other parties and individual liberals will have to decide where their ideals are best articulated.
I agree entirely with Matthew’s basic message. It is worth remembering that the situation the Party faces in the North of England, much of the Midlands and Wales is not the same as that in London and, again differently, across much of the South.
I also agree strongly with Chris Cory’s perspective about fundamental change in the structure of UK politics and the need to facilitate realignment.
The core idea of pluralism, as Roz Savage says, is an essential part of Liberalism and Liberals need to think through the implications of that belief.
Realignment and pluralism are built on relationships – as it was when the SDP and Liberal Party merged. We should be looking to build relationships, to avoid stereotyping any person or group with whom we have disagreements, and to reject that belief that people are always defined by their parties rather than the other way round.
Despite other changes, the biggest revolution in politics around the world is the collapse of the “working class” as a coherent ideological and organising principle.
“If the Greens become a proper left wing, Momentum inspired party”
While a lot of Lib Dems appear to only just be noticing that the Greens are quite left-wing, the Greens themselves have been aware of this quite a bit longer. See https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/15/caroline-lucas-green-party-new-politics from 2010 for example for a much earlier description of their eco-socialism. Polanski isn’t offering anything new from the party, he’s just in the right place at the right time to get more publicity for it when there’s a reasonably-sized bloc of voters looking for it.
@Paul Barker – many good points, across your comments, I take issue with just one “ if Reforms long-term decline continues then The Conservatives will revive & threaten our new MPs.”
Looking at the ward by ward data from St. Albans (2026 local elections) , it is clear Reform, by splitting the Conservative vote helped break this long held “safe” Conservative council and Westminster constituency. I’m not sure if you regard Daisy as a “new MP”, hence I would drop the word “new” from your statement.
It is much easier to agree with the principle of pluralism that it is to agree on which other parties to co-operate with and which to be against. In practice it must be a fairly pragmatic question differing from one council to the next.
I do think we have to be more cautious with the Greens than hitherto. A fairly hard left party since 1990 or so, they have taken another lurch to the left; more populist this time (they will talk about cost of living while advocating for policies that will make everything more expensive), and they seem to me to be relishing the rise of Reform much as some of the more bone headed communists relished the rise of the fascists.
It is all very well talking about pluralism when most of our structures work against it. It is like talking about fairness and then introducing measures that reduce it. Our whole governance is dominated by debate, making cheap points and calculating how many voters we need to convert to win. Until we understand that to a large extent our cost of living crisis and other national issues refect a culture where competition is more important than collaboration talking about pluralism is idle chatter.