Clegg and Cameron standing next to each other in the Downing Street Rose Garden felt like a new era in British politics. I joined soon afterwards, excited at the prospect of an economic and socially liberal government for the first time in decades. Despite the abuse it got me, I was happy to constantly defend the government, fully believing (which I still do) that the Lib Dems were reining in the worst of the Tories.
Around mid-2014, my own views started to shift from classical liberal to, as Clegg has called it, the “radical centre”, as well as a move towards intersectional feminism. While the Lib Dems still matched me ideologically, I was becoming increasingly disillusioned with politics altogether as I underwent an ideological identity crisis. I thus left the party by not renewing my membership later that year.
Fast forward to May 2015, and the polls are predicting the Lib Dems will receive around 25 seats, and potentially more due to the famed incumbency factor the Lib Dems rightfully enjoy access to. Then the exit poll came. At 4am I was beginning to run out of gin to drown my sorrows in and to make matters worse, Lynne Featherstone lost her seat. I do not live in her constituency, but the work she has done for LGBT+ rights and campaigning against FGM was being systematically erased as the electorate voted her out. I found myself on the verge of tears that such a terrific woman had been rejected, and with this, I emotionally re-joined the party I’d recently left.
In addition to this, it dawned on me just went a Conservative majority meant for this country. Theresa May symbolises the very worst of their party, a true High Tory who is borderline obsessed with removing as many hard-fought civil liberties as possible. This was confirmed almost immediately with the reintroduction of the vile Snoopers’ Charter, to the detriment of campaigners everywhere. As a country, we now also have to deal with a possible repeal of the Human Rights Act which would be replaced by an ambiguous Bill of Rights, harmful cuts which disproportionately affect the disabled, as well as the potential of Britain leaving the EU. The Tories are no longer shackled to the Liberal Democrats, and the handcuffs are moving to the worst off in society.
I refuse to let this happen. The EU is a flawed but invaluable institution which has led to peace in Europe. The Human Rights Act is one of the very best pieces of legislation in our country. Disabled people should not be punished for something they have no control over. We, as a party, are currently in mourning, and the politics of fear won the 2015 general election. But liberalism has not been destroyed, and I am thrilled to be joining thousands of activists across this wonderful country in ensuring that doesn’t happen and that our cockroaches multiply.
* Graeme Hurst is a member of the Liberal Democrats in Copeland and Workington
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9 Comments
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/shaun-lawson/how-to-stop-boris-labour-liberal-democrats-and-what-left-must-now-do
I like this intersectional feminismness you espouse, and I share your grief about Lynne. Welcome back.
I’m not sure we count as cockroaches… There might be something in the delusions some parties have created to make reality bearable… We hold a remarkably grounded place. The big issues being avoided in the election are globalisation, climate change and the EU… maybe no surprise that an internationalist party with good green credentials and strong on the EU got a hammering… The issues have not gone away, and we will be well placed to engage with them when society is ready.
This reminds me, is Tim Farron going to run?
If Tim farron and Simon Hughes want to rebrand Lib Dems to Liberals makes sense to talk to those of us who remained Liberals.
Hope it is case of genuine direction change rather than a cynical ploy.
Shame its taken them since 1988 to discover where they want to be – slow learning curve since the new Party in 88?
Jennie – thanks for the welcome. It’s fantastic to be back!
Mark – I felt the cockroach comparison (initially used by Farron) was quite apt to describe us. Yes we were decimated in the election and it often felt as though the entire country hated us, but we still have 8 seats, and I don’t see us going any lower than that.
theakes – I believe he’s just waiting for the right time to announce.
Steve – Tim confirmed a few days ago he does not wish us to rebrand, it was simply a colloquial term he uses to refer to the Lib Dems.
Also, to everyone else, sorry for the glaring double typo in the fourth paragraph, I evidently need to polish my proof-reading skills.
Theakes
Looks like Farron is going to announce his candidature on the R4 Today programme tomorrow. https://twitter.com/timfarron
Bit more classy than Chuka Umunna posting what looks like a selfie video in a Swindon street on Facebook!
Graeme. Welcome home, and Thankyou for another brilliant ‘new member’s post’. I hope LDV keeps these going for more than 1 day.
And thankyou also for confirming that Tim does NOT want a name change. I’m behind him as leader, but I wasn’t up for that at all!
Its not all doom gloom and despondency here in Rugby for the second year running we bucked the national trend and gained borough ward seats from the Conservatives despite having them making every effort to undermine our campaign .I would as I am sure others would be pleased to hear from other council groups who bucked the national trend ,Success at Borough,District and County level is the way back and proves campaigning with a positive message of hope does work.