I joined the LibDems in 2009, following a conversation with Steve Webb
MP on an entirely different subject, feeling claustrophic, cynical, disoriented
and stripped of hope.
Claustropobic because both government policy and the cultural tone it
set gave me a sense that one wasn't allowed to do anything if it were not
explicitly permitted. That there was a single, proper way of parenting, eating,
education, thinking to which one was being pushed to conform.
Cynical because the expenses scandal reinforced the perception that
politicians were only in it for themselves and yet disoriented following a talk
by, of all people, Zac Goldsmith where his description of his experience even
with the broadsheets left me with the sense of being in a hall of mirrors,
unable to rely on any of the images of the world the media presented.
And hopeless. There are New Labour achievements which I think were a
great step forward - Northern Ireland, corporate social responsibility, the
social enterprise agenda spring to mind. But these were outweighed by my
experiences, whether in trying to achieve the laudable aims for Community
Services Partnerships where Treasury control-freakery strangled the policy baby
or in the voluntary sector where siloed thinking by funders stifled
innovation. Further there was the lack of long term thinking - the pensions and
energy issues for example were exacerbated by a reluctance to make electorally
difficult decisions. That's without Iraq, child detention and ID cards. But
most of all I think what killed my hope for the future was the sense of a
complete and utter capitulation to the City and the existing economic model. If
the left accepted that democracy has little sway over capitalism, what hope for
all those of us who want an economy which reflects our values rather than
dictates them?
So what did I find in the LibDems? Idealism grounded by a membership
embedded in its communities and sectors; open, welcoming, hard-working,
committed; incredibly tolerant of newcomers with a propensity to put their foot
in their mouth, a culture of debating and consensus rather than head-to-head
macho battles and yet hardened fighters. No airs and graces, no sense that
government rank makes a person any different from any other member or any
member of the public. Yes, flawed people and flawed systems because people are
just people, and yes, mistakes because what I have seen is complexity beyond
human capability - politics covers every person and every subject. It is
insoluble. There are no correct or easy answers. only the values and
intelligence you bring to tackling the questions.
I'm well aware that my impressions of the other parties are based for
the most part on what I read, see and hear through the media. I suspect I would find a reasonable amount of
commonality at the Conferences and certainly with many individuals. But for me
the LibDems constitutional protection from imprisonment by conformity and the
fact that it actually practices democracy, so that ordinary members to make
policy and run the party, places clear water between it and the other two main
parties.
In short, my membership of the LibDems has been like getting out of a
small car after a long journey, destination dictated by the driver. I've taken
large gulps of fresh air (even if at times it's buffeting winds!) and
stretched, taken a good look around and been encouraged to stretch my wings. My
sense of freedom, purpose and hope have returned and I feel supported as if by
family.
So thank you everyone – inside and out of the party - for your support
and inspiration so far. It’s time now for me to make a real commitment.
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