So, I ought to declare an interest as a former member of the Party’s Federal International Relations Committee, and a member of the Liberal Democrat European Group on and off over the years. You might therefore imagine that I’d be pleased that Ed Davey is finally talking about our future as a member of the European Union. I’d put it more as relieved, though, as it’s been an open door that we’ve rather shied away from in recent years.

Now I do get it, in that calling for us to renew our membership too soon was a risk – remember 2019, anyone? – but we are a pro-European political party, retaining strong links with our sister parties across the continent and with a historic belief that pooling sovereignty in pursuit of economic growth and freedom is a thoroughly good thing. And, given that public support for returning to our place on the European stage runs at four times the level of our support in the opinion polls, it feels like an obvious step to talk about an ultimate goal to rejoin.

No, it won’t be easy. After putting the Member States through the psychodrama of Brexit, the United Kingdom, and not just the Liberal Democrats, will need to persuade them that any move to return will be long-term and not vulnerable to the next spin of the British electoral wheel. The terms will have to be discussed, and the reality of those terms might not be immediately attractive. But the discussion has to start here, and who better to lead it than a political party that believes in the concept of closer co-operation and understands that the pooling of sovereignty requires some sacrifices on both sides.

The European Union has demonstrated beyond doubt that it doesn’t need us more than we need it, and that protecting the Single Market was more important to retaining a not entirely committed member, so British politicians will have to enter talks with a touch of humility – the economics suggest that we need them rather more than they need us, although both sides should benefit, the British through access, the existing Member States through a larger internal market.

We do have the advantage of those strong links with our sister parties, giving us an insight into the debates in the Member State capitals, and there is some goodwill there, to an extent due to the work done by senior Liberal Democrats who have kept our presence at ALDE strong – I highlight Sal Brinton and David Chalmers here.

Coincidentally, this week sees an election for a new Chair of the Liberal Democrat European Group, and I’m rather hoping that the winner will write something for us next week. And yes, I’m their Returning Officer, for my apparently many sins…

I’m expecting a busy day ahead here at Liberal Democrat Voice, with some fascinating articles submitted. In no particular order, Tom Reeve is calling for a wealth tax, whilst Tara Foster believes that the Party should take a stronger stance on the right to protest. We’ve got a couple of new contributors, so a warm welcome to Dino Schreuder, who writes on the role of vocational training, and David Moon, who reminds us of the words of John Maynard Keynes. And, of course, we’ll have Mathew Hulbert’s always ebullient weekly column.

In site news, some of you will have started to receive a daily e-mail featuring the previous day’s articles – what do you think? We’ve also sharpened up our social media act, with better use of Bluesky to encourage readership. If you’re not following us there, why not?

And with that, it’s time to let our contributors take the spotlight…

* Mark Valladares is the Monday Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice.