Issue 394 of Liberator is on its way to subscribers.
Our first free sample article for this issue gives three perspectives from the continent on Brexit, by Søs Haugaard, Kate Vanovitch and Sonja Rentz.
In the second, Tony Greaves explains how the Liberal Democrat preamble – barely contentious when written – now reads like a revolutionary text.
Both are on: www.liberatormagazine.org.uk
Also in this issue:
PARLIAMENT PERFORMS THE PARROT SKETCH The contortions of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn over Brexit remind David Grace more of Monty Python than an effective legislature
PADDY ASHDOWN 1941 – 2018 Obituaries by Alan Leaman, Rebecca Tinsley, Roger Hayes, Mark Smulian, Claire Tyler and Les Farris
WHERE DID ENGLAND GO? Jonathan Coe’s new novel Middle England uses characters from some earlier books to chart the nation’s path into one of mutually uncomprehending tribes after the 2016 referendum, finds Jonathan Calder
RAINFORESTS STILL FELLED IN VAIN Nearly 15 years since the Wasted Rainforests pamphlet, Gareth Epps finds the Liberal Democrats are still writing reams of unread policy papers that do nothing to rectify their loss of identity
JUSTICE FOR THE LITTLE PEOPLE TOO The words of Lord Lester’s lordly friends over the sexual harassment allegations against him show a hypocrisy with a 25 year long echo, says Gwyneth Deakins
INFERIORITY COMPLEX Why do Liberal Democrats so lack confidence in liberalism, wonders Michael Meadowcroft
A CHANCE TO GROW This year sees 8,000 council seats up for grabs, even if party HQ has not noticed, says Howard Sykes
Also, news and gossip in Radical Bulletin, letters, reviews and Lord Bonkers’ Diary.
Back issues of Liberator from 2001 onwards are available free, together with subscription details (£25 a year) on our website. See: www.liberatormagazine.org.uk
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6 Comments
I will confess to a tear at the Paddy obits. Mark Smulian’s on Paddy’s relationship with Liberator, was particularly good.
I have to say it is a spectacularly good issue. Lots to get your teeth into. I even agreed with Tony Greaves and that doesn’t happen often.
And David Grace’s piece was outstanding.
The piece about Lord Lester from a former Chair of Tower Hamlets was particularly illuminating.
I admit to being a long term fan of the Sage of Pendleton but that does not disqualify me from seeing the piece by Tony Greaves as the clearest enunciation of the relationship between principles and policy we’ve had since the formation of the Liberal Democrat’s. Read it and be of good cheer in desperate times
Oops I wrote Pendle but the predictive mode managed to substitute the name of the only location in the north west I have ever lived in.
Excellent piece from Lord Greaves dissecting the preamble to the constitution:
“We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity, and to nurture creativity. The role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions that affect their lives.”
“How out of place this would seem in a statement of principles of the Labour or Conservatives part.”
Mark is such a good writ
Oops Mark is such a good WRITER!!!