Something is not quite right about the Lib Dem message at the moment. That may seem like a statement of the obvious while we remain on single figures in most polls. But it is a bit of a puzzle.
Having talked it over with various party colleagues and read a few blogs in a similar vein, I am concluding that our official headline policies and messages are being framed from a restricted perspective.
The party leadership now sees politics through the prism of national Government – the current coalition and a potential post-2015 coalition. This is perhaps understandable, given that most of them are part of the current Government. This leads to an exclusive focus on how we might make a future Conservative Government a bit less nasty or force a future Labour Government to face up to deficit reduction. And there is an understandable fear of making a very explicit promise that we cannot keep if we enter a Government with either of them (the ghost of tuition fees).
Now I want to make it clear that I have been and remain a strong supporter of this coalition. I believe its record in delivering Lib Dem policies in our 2010 manifesto is quite remarkable and we stepped up to the plate when the economy was in crisis and stable Government was required.
But the forthcoming election will not be primarily about the record of the current Government. And most voters will not leap to the question of what policies Lib Dems might persuade the others to sign up to in coalition negotiations. Another coalition with Lib Dem participation may or may not happen (I don’t think it should, but that’s the subject of another blog). But the assumption that the Lib Dems will be a junior partner in coalition should not be the start and end point when trying to persuade people to vote for you.
The starting point should be liberal values, liberal passion and a forthcoming fight for liberalism. A clarion call to keep the liberal voice alive and kicking in our politics and in our Parliament.
Ironically, the need for liberal voices in Parliament has never been stronger. Nationalism – the right-wing, populist version in England and the centre-left, populist model in Scotland – is on the rise. We face the prospect of a vote on Europe, which is really about whether we are an open country looking to the future, or turning our backs on the world and looking to the past. We face hysteria on immigration which is losing connection with rational debate. There is also a newspaper fanned, anti-politics agenda which shows disinterest in democratic solutions and borders on nihilism.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives and Labour are moving away from liberalism, driven by their fear of UKIP. This is a capitulation to a party that stands for fear and not hope.
There are countries in Europe that have three main parties – a social democratic party, a conservative party and a nationalist/populist party – and no strong liberal voice. I don’t want Britain to become that type of country, and I don’t think we are that type of country.
This blog has been in gestation since Lib Dem members received an email last month from the Lib Dem Director of Strategy (I’m not picking on him, it was typical of the general positioning). It set out some uninspiring bullet points, with messages to mix and match for different segments of the electorate. It was mostly more of the same from our time in Government and just lacked oomph. Centrist, sensible but not very inspiring or liberal.
I’m now going to hypocritically provide a quick list of the issues and policies that I want to hear more about (my excuse is that I don’t want this blog to go on forever). Offering a fair deal on housing to young people, prioritising social care (particularly dementia), reforming the laws on drugs, rehabilitation of offenders, revitalising local government and city regions, investing in transport outside of London. And a passionate defence of the positive contribution that immigration makes to the UK’s economy and our diverse nation.
All big topics in themselves, but the key point is we need to talk more about distinctive liberal priorities and positions, underpinned by our unique liberal values.
To be fair, the Lib Dems normally take the right position in these debates and we have some good policies going forward. And to be positive about the national party, the current sustained campaign on mental health is excellent. It’s distinctive, it’s important, it’s fresh and it’s passionate.
But we need more of that. More passion and less powerpoint please.
King in Kilburn 