tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post1283222155650445643..comments2024-03-28T22:32:50.562+00:00Comments on Liberal England: Nick Clegg and his straw men appear to have learnt nothingJonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-81656926969182780532014-06-06T15:09:08.746+01:002014-06-06T15:09:08.746+01:00Liberal long standing policy has been free markets...Liberal long standing policy has been free markets, free trade and freedom of the individual - more so than Conservatives.<br /><br />It seems many people who joined the Liberal Democrats were really Labour supporters who are strong market interventionists. Only after the Coalition was formed did they realise what being liberal means.<br /><br />Sadly the Labour lite image that the SDP has brought to the Lib Dems has been a barrier to Lib Dems winning voters from Conservative to replace those lost to Labour. <br /><br /><br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-47748185504744343362014-05-31T00:45:57.863+01:002014-05-31T00:45:57.863+01:00Any review that doesnt consider a change of leader...Any review that doesnt consider a change of leadership is not worthy of the name. Clegg is hollowing out the party like a cancer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-65666033704564444172014-05-30T13:37:26.111+01:002014-05-30T13:37:26.111+01:00The problem is that Clegg (and the other Orange bo...The problem is that Clegg (and the other Orange bookers) are not Liberals in the British sense of the word. They are essentially free market fundamentalists with a strong authoritarian tinge. Just look at the dismissive tone of Clegg to any criticism of his leadership. It is his road or the high road. That is just not a Liberal (or indeed liberal) approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-20627567421217041312014-05-30T12:25:45.067+01:002014-05-30T12:25:45.067+01:00Any serious review ought to be announced and take ...Any serious review ought to be announced and take place through official channels, not via LDV. In the absence (as yet) of any direct survey of the membership by the party, I, for one have had my local party call a meeting of its members to attempt to come to a consensus view. Any such consensus will be communicated by the chair to the party at large.Paul McKeownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-25515151578604003002014-05-30T10:31:19.467+01:002014-05-30T10:31:19.467+01:00Clegg would get far more credit if the review was ...Clegg would get far more credit if the review was led and the team was composed of people he has almost no connection with, but are respected in their areas. Also, people who are newer to the party, not just the "old lags". There needs to be a strong challenge and the real chance that we can change direction as a result, rather than coming away thinking that the message was OK but the media never gives us airtime, rise of Ukip. blah, blah, usual excuses. It was an utter failure and things have got to change. If Clegg does not have the instinct to know that, then something is deeply wrong. It's job No.1 for the leader.Helen Flynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-84161168286933709032014-05-30T07:45:05.265+01:002014-05-30T07:45:05.265+01:00Which is why the review is incredibly important. T...Which is why the review is incredibly important. There are very credible, decent campaigners on it and they need to be persuaded that certain lines need to be dropped from a great height. So I'd say to everybody - don't just make your point on the internet. You need to actually participate in the review and details of how you can do that will be coming to Liberal Democrat Voice in a little while.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13400588534561290859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-46649218118457218412014-05-29T23:45:25.535+01:002014-05-29T23:45:25.535+01:00During my life time, I have observed that about 10...During my life time, I have observed that about 10% of the population are natural liberals. They normally vote for the liberal party, whatever it is called.<br /><br />When the liberal vote falls below 10%, I am aghast. We cannot be less liberal to appeal for votes, because that is false, so we have to act liberally forward.<br /><br />But what if I was wrong and pessimistic? More than 10% innate liberals?<br /><br />Phil Beesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18442987962398498812noreply@blogger.com