Our five key pledges
The EU: Letting the people choose
While the Liberal Democrats continue to be a Europhilliac party we recognise that the current format of the EU is suffering severe stress, and that a liberal party should never seek to hold the people in something as large as this, against their will. In recognition of this the Liberal Democrats promise a straight in-out referendum after the next general election, if the Eurozone crisis is over by this point we believe that the people of Britain we choose to stay within Europe, and if not, then perhaps it is time to leave.
Crime: Fixing a broken system
The current criminal system in Britain is not working. People who commit victim-less crimes are needlessly imprisoned (At a time where putting a person in prison for a year costs the public £65,000), while many violent offenders recommit soon after release. The Liberal Democrats are committed to solving this, we not take the easy route of being ‘Hard on Crime’ like so many previous governments. In order to do this the Liberal Democrats will begin the transition to treating drug addiction as the medical problem it is instead of the criminal one it is not, and on the other hand funnelling the money saved from such into rehabilitating those who can be, while making sure those who can not, remain separate from the public.
Defence: A Modern Military for a Modern World
In an era of guerrilla and cyber warfare the British Military is still more suited to fighting a ground war in the German Plains. The Liberal Democrats wish for the British Isles to be defended, and for Britain to be able to act as we did in Libya, Sierra Leone and the Former Yugoslavia, but this does not mean we need a standing army of hundreds of thousands. The Liberal Democrats are committed to rolling back unneeded forces, while increasing those which are useful in a modern age, namely the Air Force and Navy.
Economy: A liberal deal for Britain
[Ice/AndyC can write]
Constitution: Bringing it into the 21st Century
In the past it has seemed the Liberal Democrat party has placed a too great an importance to reforming our constitution, it is not close to being the most important issue to us, but at the same time, it does matter. Firstly we are committed to the setting up of English regional Assemblies, it is wrong that all other areas of the UK have their own self electing bodies while England is deprived of such, but at the same time a single ‘English Assembly’ can not truly represent the diversity there is across the Nation, regional assemblies are the perfect solution to such. Secondly we support the transition of Britain’s various electoral methods (There are five currently) to STV in most areas, and AV for Mayoral Elections, and any other single member elections. Thirdly we support continuing reform to the House of Lords. Lastly we support the removal of the farcical Police Commissioner elections, and further Mayoral referendums where there is local demand.
First thoughts:
ReplyDelete-DO NOT USE THE WORD 'PLEDGE.' PLEDGE IS A FAIRLY POLITICALLY TOXIC WORD FOR US AT THE MOMENT.
-bviously these five pledges are not the manifesto. I do think having a short summary of key pledges is a good idea. But we need to emphasise more things that people care about. First and foremost, that is the economy. The 'economy' section of our manifesto should probably be split into several sections covering fiscal policy, housing, education and so on. These should have their own 'pledges' - OH GOD WE NEED ANOTHER WORD FOR THAT.
Message is key. JOBS, THE ECONOMY, FAIRNESS, THE ECONOMY, COMPETITIVENESS, THE ECONOMY, TAX AVOIDANCE, THE ECONOMY, BENEFITS, THE ECONOMY, THE DEFICIT, THE ECONOMY, EUROPE, AND DID WE MENTION THE ECONOMY?
We need to make clear why we'd be better than the other parties - but the point has to be made in a non-superior way.
The importance of it was rather why it was left to you.
DeleteHow about "Five Priorities"? Less constraining and toxic than "pledges" but laying out clearly what we want to do.
DeleteAlso, we need to agree "red lines" for any coalition negotiations.
Let's make a google doc.
ReplyDeleteAlso instant messaging is probably useful. Do we have skype?
ReplyDeletestefanbertramlee
DeleteI support this; and as long as the military gets what it needs, I am happy :) . A written constitution is something we should think about, yes?
ReplyDeletePerhaps just collate the present documentation into something more coherent
DeleteA LIBERAL ECONOMY: One which provides a safety net but not a hammock, does not hold back growth, and sweeps away the bureaucratic complexity of generations of meddling. We will institute a Citizens Basic Income payable to all citizens of the UK to replace most benefits (except for Disability Benefits) and tax allowances. This will wipe out the “Benefits Trap” and ensure every hour worked benefits everyone. We will institute Nominal GDP targetting for the Bank of England to govern its adjustments to the inflation target depending on economic growth, and free Government Departments from the wasteful end-of-year "clawback" which simply encourages wasteful spending in February and March every year.
ReplyDelete