This week there’s been a lot of chat in the Westminster village about an issue close to our party’s heart: liberalism. Specifically, on whether or not the Conservative party can be liberal. Sparked, on this occasion, by a Tory Minister and arch-moderniser, Nick Boles, conceding that their detoxification project has failed. To be honest, it’s was always going to be a bit tricky to modernise when you believe, for example, in penalising the unmarried through the tax system, or using “go home vans” in the immigration system. But that’s the Conservative party’s business. Our business is making sure people know that, no matter which way the Tories go, this coalition government will never lurch to the right – because we won’t allow it. Nor would we let Labour pull the country left. We need to tell people that there’s still a party that will always shun the extremes and govern from the liberal centre: the Liberal Democrats. The clue’s in the name. Some Conservatives say we’ve gone too soft and too statist. Bizarrely, they’ve even recently suggested that wanting to have qualified teachers in the classroom is somehow illiberal. An act of state interference so excessive, it seems, it would have John Stuart Mill turning in his grave and George Orwell lost for words. Some in the Labour party, on the other hand, insist we’ve become too hard – not ‘the nice party’ anymore. They point to the difficult decisions we are taking to pay off the deficit. Apparently it would be more progressive to let our children foot the bill. But one thing I’ve learnt: when your opponents accuse you of heading in opposite directions, it’s normally a sign that you’re exactly where you need to be. For us, that’s smack bang in the liberal centre. The only place you can deliver real, liberal freedom. In essence, liberalism is about enabling everyone to get on in life – without the state forever looking over your shoulder and irrespective of the circumstances of your birth. Liberals strive to give people two things: the freedom to be who you are, as well as the opportunity to be who you can be. Everything our party does in this government should be seen through this prism. From blocking the “snoopers’ charter”, which would have given the authorities access to every website you visit; to handing back unprecedented powers to our towns and cities; to cutting taxes so you hold onto more of the money you earn. It’s all about empowering people to achieve their potential. Because life chances are shaped from such an early age, I’ve argued endlessly for investment in the early years, when it can make the greatest difference. In a truly liberal society every child has the chance to flourish, whatever their background. So we’ve secured billions to help the poorest pupils in our schools; we’re delivering new, free childcare for toddlers in the homes who need it most; and in the coming weeks we’ll be setting out how we’ll pay for free school meals for children of infant school age, to help give all young children the best start in life.” British liberalism is alive and kicking. For the people pondering its whereabouts this week, you just need to know where to look. Nick Clegg MP
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 09:05:43 +0000
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