About me
Thanks for getting this far.
My name is John a Lib Dem Cllr and activist. I class myself as being on the soft left/radical but pragmatic wing of the Party. Saying that I’m open to new ideas and am a particularly tolerant human beings who doesn’t believe in human perfection!
I want this blog to challenge our thinking but generally to be polemically against the other two mainly boring parties. Let me make it clear I’m honing the skill of balancing Liberal polemics with pragmatic sensibilities.
Three huge challenges loom large for our Party:
a) Can we show the British people we want to CHANGE THE SYSTEM not just tinker with it. This means not just being `Labour Plus` but truly Liberal? I want to see a strong shift from the centre to local people - through their ELECTED LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES (not anarcho-syndicalism from the Centre).
b) Can we show the British people we can govern more efficiently and strategically than nu Labour - really changing policies to make them better for people?
c) Can we show the British people we can be for the many and not the few by thinking the unthinkable and saying the unsayable?
John,
What the %£$%%^£$%^%£ are you on about!
I’m backing Nick Clegg and will be nominating him.
Don’t forget the Social Democratic strand of the party, I see myself as being from that political centre of gravity. We need to be radical but not whigish radical!
Dave
These are simply brushstrokes Dave. Don’t forget I was originally a member of the SDP myself.
I don’t think anything i’ve said has pointed to whiggish liberalism - simply that we must allow local government to govern properly. We will always win when it comes to our instincts and policies in local government - even if others win following our lead.
I think you’re interpreting individualist as political - I meant it as more to do with tolerance and understanding of the quirks of human beings being a Liberal trait!
John,
I accept that and as someone who never had the chance to join the Liberals or SDP I would say that I come from the left Social Democrat and I feel sure I know that you feel Local Councils should have the power to deliver services local people want and be free to make mistakes but always have the sober reality of facing the Electorate when it goes wrong, not the Audit Commission pen pushers.
Love the blog John very interesting!
Dave
John,
I would like to see what you think about the Labour Party waiting for Gordon and as my Labour friends have said to me “He is as bad as Tony Blair but at least Tony Blair did it well”!
Dave
John
Has anyone noticxed that the newq Local Transport Bill allows the Government to control the Franchises through appointed Approval Boards (Clause21)?
Also there is a provision to only have a “Majority of Accountable Elected Members” on Integrated Transport Authorities by Regulation so the current Passenger Authority could go down to 17 Councillor of the 33 Members.
Yet another attack on Local Democracy and accountability, just when they are giving them Congestion Charge powers. No coincidence there then! (Clause 72 (3))
David White
I totally agree that we have to re-design the system and not just tinker with it.
None of our institutions are “fit for purpose” ALL our government departments are incompetent simply because they do not obey the scientific laws of effective organisation.
I have a blog of my own at http://www.politicswriggling.blogspot.com. under the name coldcomfort. I have been a Liberal activist since 1956.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION - Thanks John. Appreciated. Coldcomfort
John, can you remove my posting of 7 Dec above & not post this message. Thanks.