In March this year we announced the Jenkinsite Policy Network after a members vote, and though it has taken longer than any of us expected, we have finally gotten to the stage where we can announce our statement of intent! The statement was drafted by myself, Andy Chandler and Mathew Hulbert (of Matthew on Monday fame) and is intended to set out the principles of Liberal Social Democracy that will inform the policies we intend to push going forward.

We have done this with the aim of broadening debate within our party. We recognise that despite election successes of the previous few years, we have become vulnerable to other parties having a strong, consistent national message, and this has been reflected in a myriad of Lib Dem Voice articles crying out for a distinct progressive vision, but organising to make this happen has yet to come. 

We hope to fill that void.

Our timid “local issues alone” approach is on borrowed time. The Liberal Democrats should be in a far better place as a grounded but anti-system party. This is not about abandoning the many traditions from our party, but developing a consistent and unique identity for the public, who often know little about what we stand for.

If you are curious what we have written so far we have a full version here, and for those with less time on their hands, an accessible shortened version here.

This is far from a finished vision though, as we will now be putting it to the membership via Zoom sessions to discuss further amendments they may have alongside setting up the final structure of the organisation.

As always membership is open to any Liberal Democrat who shares support for internationalism, social libertarianism and the social market economy, so we’d love for you to contribute too by joining our Facebook Group.

* Rosemary Runswick is a Liberal Democrat activist in West Suffolk and a member of the Radical Association. She writes a blog at the Green Ribbon Club (https://greenribbonclub.blogspot.com/p/about.html).