Over the festive season we’re running a series of posts on the main Liberal Democrat challenges for 2011. You can find all the posts as they appear here.
Getting economic policy right may be at the heart of the government’s long-term fate, and crucial for the country, but even if everything goes right the benefits are long-term ones – so to keep the coalition working well over the next year will require a steady supply of other good news and much work on internal communications.
Ask Liberal Democrat activists why they are active in politics and why for the Liberal Democrats and the issues of political reform, civil liberties and the environment come up time and time again.
At any time reforming our political system, protecting our environment and restoring civil liberties should be priorities for Liberal Democrats, but after the tuition fees votes significant progress on this trio is also important for internal party reasons. For the coalition to have long-term support, tuition fees needs to be seen as the exception rather than the norm and hence the need for rapid evidence of core Liberal Democrat beliefs being delivered in other areas.
On political reform much rests on May’s referendum, but it is not the only significant news scheduled for 2011. Major progress on the plans for electing the House of Lords – and by proportional representation no less – is also due, with the opportunity for Liberal Democrats to show how their role in government is pushing aside the stream of excuses from many peers as to why democracy really is all a bit too new an idea for the Lords.
On civil liberties, the limits on detention without charge and control orders are both due for decision soon. For the former it is likely to be good news – a reduction back down to 14 days – and on control orders it looks as if they will be abolished with other arrangements similar to those applicable to suspected football hooligans (e.g. restrictions on travel) widened to include some terrorist suspects.
The environment is likely to bring less immediate political benefit to the Liberal Democrats for the policies that Chris Huhne has been laying out are ones that bring only few positive short-term headlines. That is in part the nature of the environmental policy for which he has responsibility and also reflects the limited resources in government. Relatively speaking his environmental areas did very well out of the spending review – but relative success against a grim backdrop is important and welcome – but also not the sort of success that really fires up people.
By contrast, the abolition of child detention for immigration purposes has been a good clear example of how persistent Liberal Democrat demands inside government have won out over resistance from some Conservatives and civil servants and delivered a result that is both important in terms of substance and important in terms of what motivates many Liberal Democrat activists.
However, to the outside world – especially the outside world of normal people with only passing interest in party politics – the contribution the Liberal Democrats are making to such decisions is often hard to spot. Hence tomorrow’s challenge is about messaging and communication.
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7 Comments
Traditional Liberal (if not Social Democrat) principles are surely
1. Freedom of the individual
2. Free Trade as the basis of economic success
3. A health service free at the point of delivery and a welfare service to support those unable to look after themselves (as per the Beveridge Reports)
Policies should be developed out of the principles
David, all good solid stuff. I would add to that the dispersal of power and break up of monopoly and monopolistic positions (both private and pubic), and the need for clarification on what constitutes welfare. Cicero has some interesting thoughts on this topic.
“On civil liberties, the limits on detention without charge and control orders are both due for decision soon. For the former it is likely to be good news – a reduction back down to 14 days – and on control orders it looks as if they will be abolished with other arrangements similar to those applicable to suspected football hooligans (e.g. restrictions on travel)”
Sorry Mark, I just don’t agree.
Control Orders are set to stay, they maybe re-branded and packaged slightly differently {Control Order Lite Perhaps} But they will still be a denial of someone’s civil liberties and the right to a fair trial.
This is some of the decisions taken on control orders since 11th September 2010 and 10th December 2010
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/parliamentary-business/written-ministerial-statement/wms-control-orders/?view=Standard&pubID=848600
It is worth noting that in this period. 1 person has been placed on a Non-Derogating Control Order http://www.terrorismlaw.info/index.php?id=15
1 has been renewed
2 control orders Expired and {Not Renewed} No explanation for not renewing them
1 control order, made in a previous quarter but never served
In total, as of 10 December, there were eight control orders in force, all of which were in respect of British citizen
There has been speculation that people on control orders maybe given limited access to communications like the internet and telephone, under certain circumstances.
This is not progress in my opinion.
The Red line should be, Nobody has any sanctions placed on them, without having been presented with the evidence, know the full accusations made against them, and given the right to form a defence, and after being given a fair trial in front of Judge and Jury.
That is how are British Judicial System works, and should be a fundermental right for everyone
The Preamble to the Constitution for the Liberal Party calls for Liberty, PROPERTY and security for all.
In came the Social Democrats from the Labour Party fanatical about the EU but not much bothered about inequality of wealth.
In the meantime, in keeping with the Preamble, the Liberal Party adopted UK Universal Inheritance as its party policy at the 120th Annual Liberal Party Assembly – admittedly a smaller gathering than the LibDem conferences.
So now, what would LibDems do about inequality of wealth, and particularly of inherited wealth? Not much, it seems.
The only challenge you have in 2011 is keeping the party in one piece.
http://www.torbayliberaldemocrats.org.uk/adriansandersmp/?p=373
You have to decide if you intend to support the destruction of the welfare state by a fanatical free market party or if there is something more to you than a prop for the tories.
I have said before that as a Labour member the party that could once be relied on to add some critical thinking to UK politics has become a craven support for a very unpleasant government.
Your contributions are hard to spot because:
-they are minimal
-Andy Coulson won’t let you talk about them
-they are minimal.
Good luck with winning the media war, now Murdoch has eaten your most powerful force for significant change in the cabinet [NC has already been done in with the fees].
An interesting read, Thanks for that link david clayton
http://www.torbayliberaldemocrats.org.uk/adriansandersmp/?p=373
ADRIAN SANDERS, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay
I have to say after reading that, it makes another refreshing change to see an MP speaking openly and honestly about the coalition with the Tories.
Once Liberal Democrats are allowed to start airing their views and making it know, where they started from at beginning of policy negotiations, and what we end up with after the compromise.
Liberal Democrats will start to feel less frustrated and the public will be able to judge if they are having influence on policy.
Well done Adrian Sanders