I joined the Liberal party as a teenager, because I shared its ideals, and
its inclusive humanity, and was inspired by its radicalism, and persuaded by
its rational thinking.
Decades later, my passion for the party’s fundamental values is undimmed,
still inspired by our unwavering liberalism, now magnified by an explicit
commitment to equality, and impatient as ever for a world that enables everyone
to become all they can be. I believe our party could fulfil its ideals far more
successfully if it lived up to them more fully.
In keeping with our values, the Liberal Democrats are a rare political
creature – a serious national party whose membership formulate and agree party
policy, even during a period in government. This is formidable, but it needs to
be even better.
The Federal Policy Committee (FPC) has a crucial role at the heart of our
participative policymaking process. I am seeking election to the FPC because I
think that FPC could help the Party and the cause of UK liberal democracy, by becoming
more liberal and democratic in fulfilling its remit, as follows:
1. Engage the party membership in the FPC’s
remit and its tasks, and remain constantly open, engaged and communicative with
the membership
2. Base the FPC’s work on an inspiring,
contemporary, liberal vision of UK society, developed as a priority after May 7th,
with the party membership and local party structures
3. Widely debate and agree a work programme
that not only fulfils current policy requirements at Westminster, and builds
towards the following election manifesto, but also addresses much broader needs,
including, for example:
·
incorporating
the best evidence-based policymaking practices into the Party’s processes;
·
investigating
& proposing major reform of the serious deficiencies of the UK legislative
process, which ‘almost guarantee the passage of bad legislation’ (King and
Crewe, The Blunders of our Governments,
2013, p 369 et seq);
·
helping activists
build policymaking capacity, to enable local people to solve problems together and
create active and confident local communities.
This illustrates the approach that
I would strongly advocate within FPC.
If it appeals to you, please give
me a high preference (1 to 6)
