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I don’t tend to be the type to give more qualified people lectures about what to do and think, however in this case I feel it is of the utmost importance.

As a party it feels that we forget what our politics is really about, Liberalism. We chase headlines and create policy as a result of emotion and popularity rather than using our liberal roots to form it. Whether it’s Ed complaining about a banknote or a hapless policy of moving departments to Birmingham, we seem to lack core liberal ideas.

As a young person I can see what issues I will face as I enter adulthood. This is scary but also allows me to give a unique view of how I think we can create a better future for me and my peers. I see real Liberalism as the answer, not culture wars or hapless policy, but real liberal values that can build a stronger Britain. I also see other young people and how they see the world. A lot of them tend to be left-wing socialists who have a rather silly view of economics. However, I cannot say I blame them, they are being given a rather dross start in life and they are right to demand better. However, despite my left-wing sympathies I am a critic of class politics, I see it as no better than the race or gender politics of others.

The idea of a group of people less well-off and struggling is not the result of an oppressive class system but rather a distinct failure of the state. Keynes always said the state should aim to provide employment and the constant privatisation and de-regulation under Tory governments has led to difficulty when trying to employ people under the state. As well as this we seem incompetent at building any sort of infrastructure. HS2 has been a monumental failure highlights the key issue of our country. I tend to be more of the mind that giving someone a job is ten times as productive for everyone as giving them benefits. This of course does lack general nuance but under the assumption they can work it becomes more plausible, if the state cannot give a person a job what is the point of the state?

Government schemes are the best way to improve a nation, in my general opinion, create infrastructure while also giving jobs and removing dependency on welfare is a win for everyone, teach a man to fish and you’ll get good economic growth and so on.

But how does this relate to being a young liberal? In case you couldn’t tell by my lack of eloquence I am a lowly teenager, so what do I know! I don’t pay tax; I don’t have a job and so on. But what I do have is hope, unlike many young people I genuinely believe in Britain. I don’t think it’s as hopeless as some say. Yes we have our issues, but it’s important to realise these are issues of the state, not the people. Wealth inequality isn’t a conspiracy by Ronald McDonald to make people buy Big Macs rather than the grossly overpriced Burger King. It’s a failure of the state to go back to its Liberal roots! So, in my humble opinion, I say we get out the Ouija board and ask our good mate Keynes what to do next!

* Charlie Larkin is a Liberal Democrat party member.