Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Where are the Liberal Democrats? Why are they not fighting for their views across the UK's blogland? Why are they not pushing forward the liberal and democratic agenda? What have they said that is authoritative about, for example, citizens juries and local referendums? Why are they letting the Tories set the pace even on supermarkets? Tell me that I am missing a well informed and vigorous cutting-edge discussion of these things from the party built on principles that oppose the big state and big corporate influence.
Anyway, Ming has spoken. He's given an interview to Unlock Democracy. His description of his party's radical discussion paper proposing a written constitution with direct, randomly chosen citizen input (yes!), For the people, by the people strikes no high notes. It is, if anything, routine. So much so that I could not find the document on their website, and it was even quite a task to locate its announcement. He only catches fire when it comes to the Lords.
Our policy paper commits us to a wholly elected Senate. Jack Straw’s proposal to publish yet another White Paper on Lords Reform – the fourth in eight years – and to delay legislation until after a general election represents a triumph for those who seek to stave off democracy in our second chamber. Never has an issue with such obvious underlying principles – those of legitimacy and democracy – attracted such interminable deliberation and reporting by committees of the great and the good. The last thing we need is another report. What is needed now is legislation to bring about the clear will of the Commons, and the clear wish of the people, to have a fully democratic Parliament. Is that so much to ask in 2007?
"Is that so much to ask?" No, it's not. But the Lib-Dems must stop "asking". There is a kind of pleading, a we-know-we-are-powerless-but please-can-we-ask feel to their body-language. To succeed, they should command this agenda, so that other parties ask the Lib-Dems for support.
Comments
The paper can be found here. The old Lib Dem website had a link to the policy pages on the front page. Now you have to go via a link marked "the party". I agree that's confusing.
[...] Anthony Barnett seems to think so. There is some merit to what he has to say, but my response can be found here. Anyone else want to have their say? [...]
James, can you give us a link to the policy document, I didn't say it was too dry for me as I've not been able to find it!
You are trying very hard, but I don't think you should see what I say in purely party or official terms. A lively Lib-Demish think tank? A gathering of those purple words to be published anonymously eg by OurKingdom? Some Lib-Dem individuals speaking out, I'm told Nick Clegg was good at the LSE. Agenda changing should drive party documents which are the outcome not the cutting edge.
Anthony
[...] for OurKingdom is going to get us anywhere, which is what Anthony seemed to be calling for in his post on Ming. Perhaps he should consider a short - baiting - piece on Lib Dem Voice. The response I got from my [...]
I would accept the accusation that the policy paper is dry, but I think that is a direct result on the party's internal policy making process which, among other things, imposes a word limit. A lot of purple language ended up on the cutting room floor. But the result is, I would maintain, a very content rich document. And I think it is the most radical document on democratic renewal published by any major political party in over a decade - that in itself may be an indictment on the political class.
In terms of publicity, I too share your frustration, but I wouldn't single out this policy. The party has been launching these policy papers (on local governance, on climate change, on tax, and a few that are too obscure even for me!) all summer long, to yawning indifference. I don't think the party can entirely blame the media for their lack of coverage.
Finally, on the question of citizens juries and referendums, I wholeheartedly agree with you, which is why I'm about to submit an amendment to this effect. Expect strong opposition to this however.
"I could not find the document on their website, and it was even quite a task to locate its announcement."
You did one better than me, I couldn't even find that!
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