tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post7377692030512299768..comments2024-03-28T22:32:50.562+00:00Comments on Liberal England: The Tories took back control of a blue wall council on Thursday and no one will admit itJonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-21212366171167412322021-10-19T23:48:05.314+01:002021-10-19T23:48:05.314+01:00As much as I like many things about the Lib Dems, ...As much as I like many things about the Lib Dems, I'm really not sure how they have convinced themselves that you can win the Home Counties by marrying economic centrism and localism, and simultaneously keep one hand on the established more overtly liberal activists but not make any kind of signal that they are capable of any kind of reconciliation with any kind of social conservatism. <br /><br />In many parts of the Home Counties, moderate social conservatism and centrism go hand in hand. I've never seen the party really acknowledge this. I'm not talking about overt reactionism or 'little Englander' nationalism here, but a sort of English woolly gradualism that could be summarised as an acceptance that:<br />- people round here aren't too bad although cruelty and selfishness are to be avoided and quietly abhorred<br />- we shouldn't be made to feel bad about the choices people in our community made in the past, although we can make better ones for the future<br />- change should be taken gradually and not overhyped, although it is probably (sometime grudgingly) necessary<br />- although most people want to live within a moderately liberal overall ethos, people have a right to hold 'old fashioned' opinions and still participate in wider society<br /><br />If the party finds difficulty holding people with such opinions close without cognitive dissonance (or it finds tabloid journalists and Tory 'wedge' tactics have got there ahead of it), it should probably give up on the Home Counties now.Matt (Bristol)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-50052678602590241692021-10-19T09:54:55.296+01:002021-10-19T09:54:55.296+01:00With Gove now in charge of local govnt strategy an...With Gove now in charge of local govnt strategy and Conservatives on the up we have to sharpen our waysnigel hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365383918453700768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-18261348888535866942021-10-19T07:28:06.162+01:002021-10-19T07:28:06.162+01:00Thx. I've shared link to Surrey LD FB group.Thx. I've shared link to Surrey LD FB group.Mark Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08030908527708028393noreply@blogger.com