High Peak Liberal Democrats

The Independent View: Norman Lamb and Liberalism – a conversation at the Institute of Economic Affairs

2015 was a tale of two leadership elections, with the Liberal Democrat debate between Tim Farron and Norman Lamb overshadowed by the seismic shift in the Labour Party. But while Jeremy Corbyn winning the Labour leadership has led to a fundamental debate on the future of the Labour Party, the victory of Tim Farron may prove the more important - particularly if the time comes for the Liberal Democrats to seize back the liberal mantle in British politics.

The Liberal Democrats, like the Liberals before them, have always held a useful counter-balancing position, able to simultaneously attack Labour for their illiberal and statist economic policies - which Jeremy Corbyn has exacerbated - and the Tories for their big-state social policy and genuflection to the security and surveillance services. Should Momentum get too much for Labour and cause splits, and should the Tories finally be split asunder over Europe (or both cast out their ideological non-believers in an orgy of blood-letting that would do la Terreur proud), the Liberal Democrats must be placed to pick up voters from both.
So, what are the Liberal Democrats for? Has the party done enough to take up the torch of liberalism? Is the party still the party of Gladstone, or has it become reconciled to playing a bit part in the great debates?

Tomorrow at the Institute of Economic Affairs we will put this question to Liberal Democrat MP and former leadership contender Norman Lamb. Can the Liberal Democrats seize back their ground as the party of a smaller state and freer people? Norman has made steps already in calling for the legalisation of cannabis and both he and Tim Farron have long been outspoken opponents of the surveillance state.

But on economics we ask whether the Liberal Democrats are ready to take up the liberal torch if both the Tories and Labour succumb to their ideological extremes. With the storm clouds of the world economy gathering once again, we must question if enough has been done by the Chancellor to fix the roof while the sun shone. Labour's plan to increase tax, increase debt and renationalise industry are not the solution.

So, tomorrow night the big questions will be asked at the IEA. What is the future of the NHS when we need to spend ever more money to equalise mental health with physical health - especially when the NHS has some of the worst outcomes in the developed world on metrics like cancer survival rates? What should be the next big liberal offer which can appeal to both free market Tories and Co-operative Labourites - looking to civil society, trades union and individuals to solve problems rather than looking to the government. And, in light of the announcement of the European Union referendum, what is the liberal argument for 'Remain', and - should the result go against those who back continued membership of the EU - how will the Lib Dems lead the fight for liberalism within an independent and potentially fearful UK shorn of both European security and the limits of European human rights law?
You might have seen the advertising on this site for the event on Wednesday from 6.30pm. If you can't join us, please join in on our web streaming service here.

'The Independent View' is a slot on Lib Dem Voice which allows those from beyond the party to contribute to debates we believe are of interest to LDV's readers. Please email voice@libdemvoice.org if you are interested in contributing.

* Sam Collins is Policy Advisor to the Director General of the Institute of Economic Affairs.

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