Phoenix Forum Bournemouth Conference

[Millennium3]

How can anyone pretend to be a "democrat" when they support transfer of power to an unelected body like the EU Commission? One of the biggest things wrong with the EU, in my opinion, is its total lack of democratic accountability. Hence, in my opinion, someone claiming to support democracy, (by using the word in their Party Title for example) while actually supporting the EU is lacking in basic honesty and therefore also lacking common decency.

Agree absolutely - it is the loss of democracy which makes some significant action by the anti EU movement imperative at the next GE. If there is not strong opposition shown to the EU then, by the time the next GE comes around it will be too late. We are in desperate times. Hence my attack on UKIP's high command who are not responding adequately to this threat, but seem more interested in the political capital they can make [in terms of extra MEPs - who are useless].

I don't think the LD's are are generally devious and conniving they seem to have a rosy view of life and do not believe our European partners will take advantage of their new found power over us.

[Mikeuk]

Being nervous wasn't anything to do with being in front of you on a committee was it mike? ;-)

I think I can say we put the evil eye on one or two of them.

[tamashi]

I don't think the LD's are are generally devious and conniving they seem to have a rosy view of life and do not believe our European partners will take advantage of their new found power over us.

I find most grassroots L-D's all seem to share a smug, self satisfied air on the grounds that nothing is their fault and they themselves are nice people. Overall however they devide into three main camps.

Those who are actually Independents but don't have the balls to stand outside the comfort zone of a Party structure. These people often have no idea what the Lib-Dems really stand for but want to do something for their local communities. Their Party Leadership is happy to keep them in the dark. These make up the majority of the local membership

Those who hate the Tories but don't love the Labour Party enough to join and know the Greens are going nowhere. These people also often have no detailed knowledge of L-D Policy. These are the second biggest group of local L-D's.

Thirdly there are the out and devious, conniving ******** who are seeking a Political Career. These are the majority of the L-D elected representatives from Parish Council upwards and definitely ALL of their MP's. They have done the calculations which show L-D is their best route to power in their own back yard. If I was a politically ambitious 20'something in the North of the country and I couldn't get on the Labour Party lists then I'd definitely look to the L-D's. Take Berwick upon Tweed for example I'd be so far up the backside of Alain Beith and the local L-D big wigs's all you would see are the tips of my toes. After all he must be due to step down or move up to the Lords fairly shortly which leaves a 12,000 L-D Majority for someone to pick up!