An interesting short film from the RSA about what really drives people and motivates them to do good jobs. It turns out that what motivates us is less the prospect of profit and more chance to make a difference. That finding challenges a lot of the preconceptions of both capitalists and socialists, although it has [...]
Author Archives: James Graham
The coalition of ideas is needed more than ever
Back in September I co-authored an article in the Guardian with Neal Lawson, Chair of Compass, about the need for a “coalition of progressive ideas” between Liberal Democat and Labour members. In truth, Neal did most of the heavy lifting on this, but I had no trouble signing up to it. In particular, I was [...]
Speech to Liberal Democrat conference on inequality
James Graham moved Amendment 3 at the Liberal Democrat Special Conference which reads:
Insert after line 23:
“Conference calls for Liberal Democrats to work constructively in government to ensure that the the net income and wealth inequality gap is reduced significantly over the course of this parliament.”
Conference,
There is no question at all that Nick Clegg and his [...]
Statement on the Liberal Democrat-Conservative agreement
The Social Liberal Forum made clear earlier this week that we favoured a progressive alliance between the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties as the basis for a government. We very much regret that due to the intransigence of some individuals within the Labour Party that opportunity was not taken.
The alternative deal that our [...]
SLF statement on the opening of formal talks with Labour
Events are moving quickly. Gordon Brown’s resignation and the opening of formal talks with the Labour Party have reignited the possibility of a progressive alliance.
The fact that talks with the Conservatives have failed to come up with agreement at this stage suggests that this possibility has run its course. The Social Liberal Forum Executive respect [...]
Social Liberal Forum calls for a Government of National Unity
Statement from the Social Liberal Forum Executive:
These are exceptional times. The nation faces two great crises: a financial crisis and a political crisis. The next government needs to be strong enough and honest enough to deal with the economic mess and our discredited democratic system.
The most credible way to tackle this would be the formation [...]
Another successful conference
The Social Liberal Forum had another successful conference, with two fringe meetings that were standing room only. This was perhaps not surprising for our joint fringe with the One Society campaign on equality, but our evening session was an ostensibly much drier affair, to adopt a constitution so that the SLF can become a [...]
Fabians fail the fairness test
Not having decent internet access over the weekend at Lib Dem conference, I’ve been itching to get my paws on the latest Left Foot Forward report on the Lib Dem proposal to raise the income tax threshold to £10,000. “Think Again, Nick!” (pdf) purports to show that, far from being the most redistributive policy [...]
After the Crash: Re-inventing the Left in Britain
Jointly published by Soundings, Social Liberal Forum and Compass, After the Crash is a call to arms for a coalition of ideas and action on the centre left, working together to find common ground for change. It was jointly edited by Richard S. Grayson and Jonathan Rutherford
After the Crash (Final)
The challenges faced by [...]
Spring Conference News
Inaugural General Meeting
Saturday 13th Early Evening 18.15 – 19.30
The ICC, Hall 6b
The Social Liberal Forum has been up and running for just over a year now. We always intended to make it a membership-based organisation and that time has come!
At this year’s Lib Dem Spring Conference in Birmingham, we will be holding our first general [...]
