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Tag Archives: thinking

Reform the Reformers – Part 3, The Search for a ‘Big Idea’

By Paul Reynolds | Mon 30th July 2018 - 12:19 pm

Liberal Democrat activists will be familiar with two apparently contradictory refrains.

One is that Liberal Democrats should pursue what is morally right for the country, regardless of public opinion. The other is that ‘no-one ever voted Lib Dem because of our policy on (… insert obscure policy…)’.

The point of the latter refrain is that the public’s problem-solving priorities should dominate policymaking effort.

There is another, potentially reconciling, refrain; that liberal democracy in the UK needs a new popular ‘big idea’. Opposition to the Iraq war is a common reference point, a major contributor to Liberal Democrats having 60+ MPs in the Commons. …

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Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged Liberal democrat policy making and reform the reformers | 11 Comments

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Recent Comments

Pawel Urbanski
No argument on reform. My worry is the word "higher". It tends to lose elections. The real scandal is not the rates, it is a tax code so complex the wealthy can...
Meg Thomas
@russel @david I thought the triple lock was unfair but it has brought state pensions up to the levels in most devleoped countries AND remember that younger peo...
expats
Ever more scare mongering about 'DEFENCE' is putting basic living standards at risk; who exactly is threatening us militarily? Russia is unable to win a war aga...
Nick Hopkinson
As usual another erudite article from William. Whilst I support the imposition of some taxes on excessive wealth, I would like to see the party focus primarily ...
Jenny Barnes
How about joining in fewer discretionary wars. Stop the MOD wasting money. Cancel Ajax and the planned F35a purchase. Mothball or use for spares one of the airc...