An idea all Lib Dems can (hopefully) agree on...

I've just been involved in an interesting twitter conversation about the new members' leadership hustings between Tim Farron and Norman Lamb, held this evening (27th of May). I would have loved to have gone, but given it was only for those who joined after May 7th I may not have been allowed, despite only joining in March! It's such a good idea to hold events especially for new members- the idea of the Lib Dems being like a 'startup' was mentioned, I think, by Norman Lamb- as far as I can tell anyway from following Peter Sigrist's excellent live-tweeting of the event. The issue of note was the role of the state, given Tim Farron's comment, again reported by Peter, that 'a small state equals weak citizens'. A lot of people seemed a bit concerned by this comment. As for me, I just wanted clarification- what was the context, what did Tim actually mean by that? Surely he doesn't believe the larger the state the better, and if he does, how is that Liberal? I then started thinking about whether Tim and Norman had any issues about which they significantly disagreed, and were prepared to say so publicly. I think it's important that they do, so that before we decide for whom to vote, we can be crystal clear about the direction either candidate will take the party, and how they can build the Liberal identity and win votes, seats, and influence. In any case, thinking about these potential areas of disagreement between Norman and Tim, I was wondering what we can all agree on; in short why we are Liberal Democrats. Other people may have others, but this is my idea:

Liberalism means empowering all individuals, whatever the necessary means to do so.

The first part is easy. Yes, sure, we all agree with that. It's not hard to disagree, in fact opposing this statement reveals fairly obvious vested interests. You don't want all individuals to be empowered, because you think empowering some will interfere with your own comfort zone. If this is because by giving poorer people better life-chances or the chance to organise, or breaking down the barriers that prevent them from accessing the benefits you enjoy, they will upset the social structure you take for granted and benefit you, then you're a conservative. If you think that by resenting those whom through ability, talent and effort  have become wealthy, or even those who have done so by nothing more than good luck, then society will be better off, then you're a socialist.

The difficulty comes in the second part- whatever it takes. This is where liberals really diverge from the Tories, and the socialists. This is what Tim Farron means, I think, when he says Liberalism is neither left, nor right, but it is a radical vision all on its own. Liberalism is radical because I think most of us realise- in fact it's why many of us are indeed Lib Dems, that to achieve empowerment we have to make radical changes to the way our country is governed, to its institutions, to our relationships with the rest of the world, and in fact no less than a radical change to our political culture and the way citizens engage with, think about, and 'do' politics. I don't think either Tim or Norman need to be shy about this: The House of Lords needs to be replaced; we need a codified, federal, constitution for the UK with regional government. We need a reformed voting system. Our schools need to teach democratic values and the importance of the peaceful resolution of conflict.We need to set up a national 'peace corps' for young people to be involved in their communities with a qualification equivalent to 2 good GCSEs. There needs to be a huge, unparalleled and historic investment in our schools and universities- new school buildings, more good teachers- especially in STEM subjects- and most importantly we need a National Early Years Service, aimed at closing the undisputed gap in attainment between the poorest children, and their 'middle class' counterparts that opens up by the age of 5, and increases over time, which would entitle, and expect, all 3-5 year olds to be given the nurturing and support that will enable them to achieve their own potential. I think we need to be clear in saying that as Lib Dems we are not content to orderly manage our society as it is, we want to radically change it so that our whole nation, its structures and culture is aimed at unlocking the potential of its citizens and celebrating their talents.

It won't do to say 'a big state is a good state' because our state, right now, is pretty rubbish. Nor will it do to use that favourite quote of the young Tory 'the government that governs best is that which governs least' because that won't work either. We need a government which is, to paraphrase Lincoln, is owned by the people because it is made up of those same people, so that it works in the interests of those people and those like them. It's wrong and harmful to make the claim that either government is good, or it is bad; It is how that government is run, and in whose interests it operates, and the underlying values that underpin it that matter. That's why having a constitution that is written down in one place would be great. Let's not waste time talking about 'British values' let's write them down on our defining national document. These values won't be 'British' because as any intelligent person knows it's daft to claim any values as belonging to a geographic landmass or to one group of people- these values will be human, kind, tolerant, open and enabling. They will be liberal values, the values of this party, and the first task that either Tim or Norman will have as leader is to share these values, shout them from the rooftops, and persuade right thinking, decent, fair minded people that they are their values too, and so win their support.

Liberalism is radical or it is pointless. There are many other ways in which Liberals would overturn the status quo, and change our society for the better, many of which would make those on both the left and the right distinctly uncomfortable, and rightly so. So my hope for both Norman and Tim is that they avoid talking about being 'left' or 'centre' or whatever, but make it clear that the Lib Dems are a party that has a unique set of ideas, and a vision for how to apply them.

That's all for now. I remind readers I am a fairly new member so I am by no means an expert, just one of many with ideas.