Nick Clegg’s success in the TV debates on Thursday has already had a positive effect in West Bromwich East. People are now talking about the election, and it’s wonderful.
In the last 48 hours I’ve taken phone calls and emails from people wanting to know about my detailed stance on dozens of policy positions – from child care and schools to international aid, tax, euthanasia, drugs, immigration, crime, litter and trains.
And if we can get this election re-calibrated, to end silly media and advertising stunts and start talking about policy, then all the better.
I’ve been on a journey these last nine years, so a debate about how we can build a progressive future is to be welcomed.
There are still issues on which Labour and the Lib Dems profoundly disagree. No doubt they’ll come out in the next few weeks. There’s no point in being churlish though. Nick Clegg has opened up this election.
Let the debate begin.
6 comments ↓
Abolish tax credits and raise personal allowances to £10K looks like a redistribution from the very poorest.
Absolutely agree. It is a breath of fresh air that the election needed, and if we stick to policy, I think we’ll all be better off at the end of it. I’d be interested on your thoughts on the future of FPTP should the Lib Dem surge hold and they poll similar numbers to Labour – yet retain a third of the seats…
Agreed. Though it’s slightly worrying that politics today is such an policy-and-ideology-free zone that Nick Clegg can get a huge boost in the polls simply by being vaguely human on TV, and not actually talking much about policy at all.
Yup; I’ve found myself engaging with candidates on issues in a way Ive never experienced before. It feels right.
As somebody who has spent many months of the past year in America and witnessed their Healthcare Reform debate, I do find Clegg reassuring. I know British politics is far from the crazyness of the US (though it has been heading in that direction recently), but having people like Clegg talking not arguing, and politicians such as yourself being honest when people do good things, regardless of their party, keeps me optimistic.
No one party has the answers, we need honest, open and fair debate to reach what’s best for this country.
As a Lib Dem, I agree. As far as I’m concerned, the more that there’s a (respectful) debate about policy, the more people can make an informed choice – and if people vote against us because they know about the policies and don’t like them rather than because they’ve not heard about them, that’s all to the good of democracy. I want Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems to do well, but for the right reasons.
Leave a Comment