The Coalition: Taking Liberal Democrat Policies into Government

Ray for Bracknell

For the first time in nearly 100 years the Liberal Democrats are in Government and putting into practice the ideas and policies that we have long campaigned for. In the space of just a few short months we have negotiated a comprehensive policy agreement with the Tories, which has the support of most of the country, and made a huge impact on the Coalition Government's agenda for the rest of this Parliament.

We could have stayed on the sidelines as an opposition party and may be offered support to a minority Conservative government on individual issues where we had a common interest but this would probably not have advanced our cause very much or even found favour with the electorate.

Going into the General Election the Liberal Democrats made it clear that we had four key priorities; fairer taxes; a fair start for children with extra funding for disadvantaged pupils; a comprehensive clean up of our politics, including a fairer voting system; and a greener, more sustainable economy.

Thanks to our involvement, the Government is now beginning to deliver on each of these objectives. There are also a large number of other Lib Dem policies and pledges that will start to make a real, positive difference to peoples' lives because of the role we are playing in the Coalition.

These include everything from rolling back the surveillance state and giving people back their civil liberties, to prison and and NHS reforms, fairer pensions, the ending of child detention and the scrapping of the third runway at Heathrow. There will also be a referendum on the Alternative Vote and a commission on long-term reform of social care.

Inevitably, there will be Conservative policies that we find difficult to accept but each Party had to make concessions in order to produce a workable agreeament. This does not mean however we cannot try to amend such policies, nor will it mean a loss of our own identity.

The next few months will be particularly important as the Coalition Government seeks to deal with the budgetary crisis and the structural deficit inherited from Labour. By joining in such a coalition the Liberal Democrats provided the best chance for the country to change course and generate the conditions necessary for future long-term growth. It also provides an unique opportunity to show what we can do in government!

Ray Earwicker

Former Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell

Undecided voters swing to Lib Dems following final Leaders Debate Fri 30th Apr 2010 Last night was the final of the three televised Leaders' debates. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, debated with Gordon Brown and David Cameron about the economy. Subjects discussed included breaking up the banks, creating more jobs and reinvigorating the British economy.

Third and Final Party Leaders' TV debate: The Economy Wed 28th Apr 2010 On Thursday 29th April from 8.30pm, BBC One will host the final live Prime Ministerial Debate of the General Election from the Midlands. Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron will again be going head to head in the run up to the General Election next Thursday.

Clegg Scores Second Win in Party Leaders Debate Fri 23rd Apr 2010 An average of five polls conducted immediately after the Sky TV Leaders Election debate on Thursday night put Nick Clegg as the winner, with all instant polls showing him ahead of Gordon Brown. After the Foreign Affairs-led debate from Bristol dominated by issues like Iraq, immigration and climate change, Nick Clegg won 3 of the 5 polls on the night, building on his position after the first debate.

Archive of earlier news stories.

News Story Feed (v1.0).