Tag Archives: regional policy

The Independent View – A way forward for the Liberal Democrats

By Mark Corner | Mon 28th December 2020 - 9:02 am

Political parties need distinctive policies. The Liberal Democrats had them in the 2005 election, with their own policy in foreign affairs (opposing military intervention in Iraq) and their own policy at home (supporting modest tax increases to pay for public services, something Labour had run away from ever since it lost the 1992 election).

Five years later, the Liberal Democrats went into Coalition government. That wasn’t a mistake in itself, but Nick Clegg did not insist upon one of the three ‘great posts’ – Chancellor, Home Office or Foreign Office. Compare the moment when Germany’s Greens went into coalition with the Social Democrats. Joschka Fischer became the Foreign Minister and had a clear impact on German foreign policy. As Deputy Prime Minister, Clegg may have had the effect of modifying government policy and making it less ‘excessive’ – like other deputies before him (Whitelaw? Prescott?) – but having a general watering-down effect on government policy does not mean giving it a distinctive flavour. Fischer was able to make a policy area his own (up to a point) and the Greens didn’t suffer too much electorally as a consequence. Clegg, despite some achievements, was not associated with a specifically Liberal vision and was punished heavily in 2015.

Posted in The Independent View | Also tagged future strategy | 42 Comments

5 February 2019 – today’s press releases (part 2)

By Mark Valladares | Tue 5th February 2019 - 11:45 pm

… and here are the rest!

A Second Chance for the Swansea Tidal Lagoon
Lib Dems oppose “shockingly complacent” Tory funding for police
Cable: PM speech proves the Govt has run out of ideas
Brexit Bribes Breach Bribery Act – Welsh Lib Dems

A Second Chance for the Swansea Tidal Lagoon

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed plans from Tidal Lagoon Power to build the Swansea Tidal Lagoon without the need for funding from the UK Government.

Last year the UK Government decided not to support the Swansea Tidal Lagoon, despite the strong support the lagoon enjoyed from experts, businesses, local government, Welsh Government and politicians across …

Posted in News | Also tagged bribery act, crime, ed davey, jane dodds, martin thomas, police and swansea tidal lagoon | 2 Comments

Opinion: the Government’s obsession with London is holding back our creative industries – and the recovery

By Gareth Wilson | Fri 15th November 2013 - 4:21 pm

As a failed rock guitarist but still passionate consumer of music I always look forward to the Mercury Music awards at the end of October, and this year’s nominees were as interesting and eclectic as they usually are. What wasn’t as diverse was where these acts originated from. Over 60% were from the Greater London area and only four were from outside the south east of England, which is surprising when you consider the award covers the whole of the UK and Ireland. It seems the advice I heard fifteen years ago during my short and unsuccessful music career is …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged creative industries and economy | 14 Comments