Tim Farron launched an audacious raid on Jeremy Corbyn's divided party today by pledging to give Labour defectors roles in a "plausible alternative" to the Conservatives. In an exclusive interview ahead of the Liberal Democrats Conference, he aimed to encourage former shadow cabinet ministers to jump ship by saying they could hold Theresa May to account more effectively in his party.
I cannot recall a political issue since I joined the party in 1998 that has engaged public interest so deeply and for so long as the EU referendum and its aftermath. Almost 3 months after polling day, you can still hear people you pass at the bus stop, in pubs and cafes and other public places talking about it. I agree with the analysis of David Allen Green of the FT that Brexit is not inevitable and will be with us as a political issue for a very long time.
The motion on Europe to be debated at the forthcoming Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton has now been published. The one selected for debate is the motion put in by the Federal Policy Committee (FPC) setting out the party's continuing pro-European stance. The Brighton motion can be summarised as:
Recently I was out with some Bishop's Stortford Liberal Democrats, gathering signatures on a petition for citizens of other EU nations currently in the UK to be allowed to remain in the UK. In a few hours we gathered just over 250 signatures on a not-that-busy street. Some were delighted to sign. Some were relieved that we were not taking the opposite position. Some said their businesses would struggle without people from other parts of the EU. More worrying was the small minority who disagreed, loudly wanting foreigners to "go home". A prize for confusion goes to the person who said that, and then added that she wanted to retire to France.
On 3rd June 2016, Michael Gove drew ridicule when he stated "People in this country have had enough of experts". However, Theresa May's announcement that her government are now seeking to actively support1 the reintroduction of selective schools goes against all evidence-based expert opinion. We mocked Mr Gove but the reintroduction of selective schools may well prove he was right. There appears to widespread support across the right-wing press and the Telegraph website is currently indicating 77% of their readership support the policy.
The recent increase in hate crimes against Eastern Europeans in the UK has rightly been met with condemnation from across the political spectrum. Some dismiss this is a post-referendum spasm which will quickly ebb away. I fear that may not be the case and the Brexit decision may cause long-term damage to community cohesion and open a Pandora's box of nasty populist politics. Let me explain why. Brexiteer leaders - Farage, Fox, Johnson - made promises which are already unravelling. They told voters that leaving the EU would lead to better NHS services, improved job prospects and smaller class sizes. Those promises were largely based on migration myths which, unfortunately, many people believed.
The Liberal Democrats' bold plan to restore UK leadership in science and innovation will drive investment, boost global collaboration, and ensure technology benefits everyone, not just the privileged few.
Reflecting on the year’s International Women’s Day theme of “accelerate action”, I am sadly reminded of how much more we still need to achieve.
The UK needs to strengthen both our Armed Forces and our soft power.
