Charles Kennedy: Climate of fear undermining civil libteries

Anthony Butcher · 25-10-2004, 06:59 PM

http://www.libdems.org.uk/index.cfm/...e/article.7648

Quote:

Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, told an audience of party activists today that the Government is capitalizing on a climate of fear over terrorism and crime to force through changes that threaten people’s civil liberties. Speaking at the National Liberal Club Mr Kennedy criticised Conservative Leader, Michael Howard’s 'time table for action' and attacked David Blunkett for using a post-9/11 fear among the public to push through measures antipathetic to civil liberties.

I wish that we had spokesmen out there making speeches like this. UKIP is dedicated to freedom, and in this aspect, the Lib Dems are our natural allies.

In the same way that Labour and the Lib Dems are teaming up for the Regional Assemblies, I see no reason why we couldn't make a joint stand against the authoritarian regime in Britain today.

mkpdavies · 25-10-2004, 09:04 PM

The Lib Dems would be alright if

a) They weren't so rabidly pro-EU
b) They actualy believed in what they said. They tell the northern voters one thing and the southern voters something else.

I would rather we steered well clear of them to be honest. Even on a local level they epitomise the reason why people hate polititians.

They will tell you a vote for anyone but them is a vote for the party you don't want in. They slag the Labour party for putting taxes up, but they are more of a tax and spend party than them.

They are the Labour Lite, with the only difference being they were against the war. How they manage to get people in the South to vote for them I have no idea.

They may spout on about civil liberties, but I can't see how they mean it when they would hand over all the countries powers to the EU anyway. A more repressive system of goverment than the Soviet Union.

Tom Wilde · 25-10-2004, 09:57 PM

I share some of those reservations about the LibDems - especially concerning their tailoring their message to their audience.

If it comes to teaming up with Liberals, the tiny independent Liberal Party offers a more inviting prospect. The true heirs of Gladstone and Asquith, they are honest, liberal and these days they mostly share our view of the EU. In an ideal world they'd be our partners in a national government. Back in the real world, however, they currently make UKIP look like a political superpower. They do have a couple of dozen local councillors, and there is one constituency in Liverpool where they consistently come second in general elections, but that's about all, alas.

Dragging myself reluctantly back to reality, I agree that it might sometimes make sense to team up with the LibDems on those issues where we share common ground.

25-10-2004, 09:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,150 Party: Libertarian Party	The Lib Dems would be alright if a) They weren't so rabidly pro-EU b) They actualy believed in what they said. They tell the northern voters one thing and the southern voters something else. I would rather we steered well clear of them to be honest. Even on a local level they epitomise the reason why people hate polititians. They will tell you a vote for anyone but them is a vote for the party you don't want in. They slag the Labour party for putting taxes up, but they are more of a tax and spend party than them. They are the Labour Lite, with the only difference being they were against the war. How they manage to get people in the South to vote for them I have no idea. They may spout on about civil liberties, but I can't see how they mean it when they would hand over all the countries powers to the EU anyway. A more repressive system of goverment than the Soviet Union. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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25-10-2004, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tom Wilde Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London. Posts: 2,914	I share some of those reservations about the LibDems - especially concerning their tailoring their message to their audience. If it comes to teaming up with Liberals, the tiny independent Liberal Party offers a more inviting prospect. The true heirs of Gladstone and Asquith, they are honest, liberal and these days they mostly share our view of the EU. In an ideal world they'd be our partners in a national government. Back in the real world, however, they currently make UKIP look like a political superpower. They do have a couple of dozen local councillors, and there is one constituency in Liverpool where they consistently come second in general elections, but that's about all, alas. Dragging myself reluctantly back to reality, I agree that it might sometimes make sense to team up with the LibDems on those issues where we share common ground.