LibDem Freedom Bill

agentmancuso · LibDem Freedom Bill

Does anyone have an opinion on this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6129566.stm?

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It sounds good, this is the sort of thing that the Lib Dems need to show how similar the Tories and Labour really are when it comes to issues of personal freedom. The majority of people seem to be against all this ID card and DNA databases, if the Lib dems can work up a momentum and show themselves to be the only oppostion to Labour that would make a difference then I dont see why the majority of labour voters wouldn't go with them at the next GE. I think they have to distance themselves from Labour in Holyrood though, as long as they are in coalition with Labour they'll be tarred with the same brush.

SLG

Absolutely. If I lived in England again, I'd most likely vote Lib Dem and if they on issues like this, definitely Lib Dem. This is where they need to be strong. There is a really strong libertarian streak through English society that isn't being catered for by the Tories and Labour. The Lib Dems need to avoid getting sucked into the space that these two parties inhabit to try and win votes and try to retain the principles that can set them apart that so many people would vote for.

Cado

The LibDems are starting to show their teeth - good! It would appear to me that the bulk of party contests during the period after the war were based on economic philosophy. However after the last 27 years of Govts the contest has moved onto the definite ground of social liberalism IMO.

They got ground available to them that neither of the other parties have any rightful claim to in the eyes of the electorate. Labour are more fascist than the Tories and as much as Cameron may try, they're still a hostage to much of their surviving members ie those that stayed loyal to Thatcher.

The economic aspect won't feature as much now - Labour have engineering a bit of a 'hybrid' system that would appear stable and functioning - the only issue is what to set the dials to - they can get out of this (the LibDems) by saying they'll appoint an expert panel of advisor's and let them recommend how to go about achieving the LibDems fiscal aims/polices.

Which leaves the social libertarian ground totally open and available - with only the LibDems qualified to stand on it.