The Measured, Equitable Way of the Lib Dems

The combined force of values, temperament and intentions are equal to the numerical superiority of any army — Ancient Chinese saying.

As the country awaits the actions of its new Prime Minister and looks on with bemusement at the internecine drama that is the Labour Party, I found myself Monday night in the company of about 700 Liberal Democrats at a meeting in London.

The rally was called to allow a panel of Lib Dem seniors to hold forth and answer questions on the current state of affairs in the country and the party.

In the greater scheme of things it won’t rank as a significant event, but as a very new member of the Lib Dems I found it fascinating.

It confirmed my decision to join a party which has at its core a desire to solve local and national problems in a way that is equitable for all.

That might sound trite to some, but when you consider the political landscape we’ve been living in for some time now, it’s not trite at all.

However we feel about David Cameron and Theresa May as individuals, the Tories have picked up the neo-liberal banner first hoisted by Margaret Thatcher all those years ago. And while May can talk about changing her approach from that espoused by the unctuous George Osborne, the neo-liberal credo will remain: “I have mine, now you get yours. And by the way, if you can’t it’s no one’s problem but your own.”

There were four ranking LibDem members on the panel, each of whom contributed to the event in a meaningful way.

Former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills Vince Cable succinctly proposed an alternative to the inequities inherent in the Tories austerity budget when he suggested the government take advantage of the low interest rate environment to borrow funds for investment in the country’s infrastructure.

Simon Hughes, the former MP and human rights lawyer, spoke to the frustrations of the Brexit vote by reminding the audience we had the ability over the next two years to negotiate with the EU in a fashion that clearly signalled we needed the continent as much as they needed us, while at the same time not alienating the majority who voted to leave.

Caroline Pidgeon, a member of the London Assembly, stood out as someone capable of carrying the Lib Dem banner for cleaner air and affordable housing. Her optimism and resolve were important characteristics for a party whose critical mass had been greatly diminished but is now starting to refill.

And from the House of Lords came Kishwer Falkner who produced a fascinating insight when she reminded people that despite all the headlines to the contrary the financial services firms in the City don’t want to move to less regulated domains, not after having spent the years since the Crisis of 2008 repairing their brand equity.

When the night was over, I connected the dots between being a Lib Dem and being a parent. (Forgive the political incorrectness of that.) One of things you want your children to be more than anything else is a problem solver. At the moment that might be the biggest single differentiator for the LibDems.

It was also made clear that we can talk about national politics all day long, but the party’s rebirth will be played out a grass roots level. I have thrown my lot in with a fascinating group of much younger people in Newham, Barking and Dagenham, who toil valiantly in Labour’s patch to get their message across.

I intend to keep writing about this excellent adventure, but so far so good.