Comments on: Manifesto Priorities – A Statement from the Social Liberal Forum Executive

By: Aubrey Meyer

Aubrey Meyer — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:00:47 +0000

Neil suggested some explanation of Contraction and Convergence [C&C].

Here are links to a couple of C&C related documents that may help this: -
http://www.tangentfilms.com/C&C29sept.pdf
http://www.tangentfilms.com/GCIEAC10nov09.pdf

By: Tony Greaves

Tony Greaves — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:35:42 +0000

“Tax increases for the richest members of society should take the greater part of the strain in reducing the budget deficit in order to protect vulnerable users of public services, like housing, health services and social care.”

I can’t disagree with this as a stands but it is not “vulnerable users of public services” who need to be protected – it’s the public services themselves.

Particularly at local level they provide much of the glue that binds communities together, that makes life worth living. Without them the most “vulnerable” people will suffer most, but everyone will suffer.

If the Tories (or indeed Labour) launch a major assault on public services after the election, there will be a series of local protests which will gain ground and turn into local insurrections and then a wave of them across the country. This party will have to decide which side it is on.

I have no doubt that most local activists will be campaigning against the dismantling of community services: it’s in our political DNA. There will be difficulties where we are running Councils that are caught by drastic cuts in government funding: will they join the insurrection or tamely behave like part of the establishment?

If our party is not backing the campaigns and indeed leading many of them, we will disintegrate.

It might help if some thought were given to this now.

Tony Greaves

By: David Weber

David Weber — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:40:34 +0000

“The abolition of tuition fees is important so that students from working class communities do not face the re-imposition of barriers at university level.”

I’m not sure how you can infer the latter from the former — haven’t the number of new university places been founded, in part, from increased funding?

By: Top of the Blogs: The Golden Dozen #143

Top of the Blogs: The Golden Dozen #143 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:56:07 +0000

[...] Manifesto Priorities – A Statement from the Social Liberal Forum Executive by the Social Liberal Forum. “The SLF executive spell out what they feel should be [...]

By: James Graham

James Graham — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:58:10 +0000

I’m not at all clear of the point you are trying to make here Neil.

By: Neil Stockley

Neil Stockley — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:47:15 +0000

Yes, I think I understand what a priorities statement is . . . it’s just that “Immediate action to further the transition to a sustainable, low carbon economy is essential and this goal should substantially influence tax and spending policies” is a vague aspiration, and doesn’t really establish a point of difference with the other parties. Why are you not as specific on policy in this area as you are on, say, tuition fees or taxation?

I take your point about contraction and convergence, but perhaps it might be useful to explain to people what it is? just a thought.

By: James Graham

James Graham — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:36:02 +0000

Neil,

I think you misunderstand the purpose of that statement.

We weren’t attempting to rewrite party policy, but rather state what we think should be priorities in the party’s next manifesto.

With this in mind it certainly does not take party policy any further than at present. But the pre-manifesto does not go this far, merely calling for “leadership” and more ambitious targets based on historical and future emissions responsibilities. It falls short of calling for C&C, which we have a problem with and would like to see rectified.

By: Neil Stockley

Neil Stockley — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:40:10 +0000

I’m not sure this really takes us very far on sustainable economy / climate change.

Of course, I agree strongly with the sentiment but so would a lot of people in the Lib Dems – and Labour, and even the Tories. What does this mean in practical terms? We need to provide details about the spending priorities and approach and, likewise, ways of using green taxes to help in changing behaviours. But then, existing Lib Dem policy contains quite a lot on green taxes. Do you suggest the party should go further?

This is existing policy too.

By: A manifesto idea: Repeal one, pass one « What You Can Get Away With

A manifesto idea: Repeal one, pass one « What You Can Get Away With — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:40:34 +0000

[...] we’re at the point of the political cycle where people appear to be demanding what should appear in the party’s manifesto for the next election (current working title: No, You Can’t [...]