Letters to the Editor, Lincolnshire Echo Saturday, October 31, 2009
In response to the letter from a Conservative councillor to the Echo on Tuesday, in which he names me and challenges the readership to, ‘take a closer look at Lib Dem policy’, I would like to make the following comments.
Firstly, contrary to his assertion that we fear scrutiny, I would absolutely welcome people to, ‘take a closer look at Lib Dem policies’, where they will find that we are the most progressive and innovative of the three main parties – leading the way in all areas of policy.
The writer adopts the usual pre-election campaign stance of most Conservative politicians and we’ve heard it all before – the use of fear tactics.
‘Let’s scare the public with the bogeyman of Europe.’Your writer fails to mention that there are also many leading Conservatives who completely support our part in Europe.
However, in fairness, you can probably find a conservative who will agree with ANY view of Europe.
That is a major fault line running through the Tories from top to bottom – they have no coherent policy to our largest trading partner.
As the writer seeks to perpetuate myths created by Euro-sceptics, let me introduce a few more facts from behind the smokescreen of Conservative ‘policy’ on Europe.
In Europe the Conservatives have deserted the centre-right grouping and formed a pact with a rag-tag army of nationalists, and climate change deniers, leaving them with few friends in Paris or Berlin to help influence European debate.
Their biggest smokescreen is on the Lisbon Treaty. David Cameron originally stood for a referendum (remember the Tories denied us one on Maastricht), now they’re not sure at all.
Britain has already ratified the treaty. It’s not a law and can’t simply be repealed or reversed, so a referendum would probably have no legal effect – although it’s political impact could be devastating.
This act of wanton sabotage would wreck Britain’s standing in Europe.
Few of our partners would accept a UK veto. The result could well be Britain’s de facto expulsion from the EU.
The Europhobes in his party would see us isolated and falling further behind the rest of Europe.
During the banking crisis, if we had been on our own we would have suffered catastrophic failures in our banking institutions, similar to Iceland (and look how quickly they had to change their tune on Europe).
It is only our membership of the European Union which managed to save us from an ignominious break down, not seen since the Tories were last in power.
Being a part of a growing and prosperous Europe does not compromise our nationality but enables us to compete in a global market.
He then implies that Liberal Democrats are anti-British.
We are equally as passionate as any other party in making Britain great and fully equipped to succeed, and indeed lead, in an increasingly sophisticated world.
We are completely patriotic but I would prefer to fly the Union Jack rather than blindfold myself with it.
There is further irony in that fact that despite his anti-Europe stance, much of the threat to this country’s economy or our identity has come from outside the Euro-zone – as our institutions are swamped (i.e. American and Russian owned football clubs, Murdoch’s media, American toxic debt, middle eastern buy-outs and energy from unreliable sources).
The Liberal Democrats, while believing that we have a very important part to play in Europe, also have concerns about the way it is run and that a pro-European stance should be creative, innovative and bold when proposing changes for the better.
We have been at the forefront to reduce red tape; led debate on economic freedoms of important economic sectors; have been the most out-spoken in attacking how Government ministers legislate in secret; were at the forefront of criticism which led to the mass resignation of the discredited European Commission; and have consistently voted against excessively paternalistic meddling in social and public health care.
Yes, I would invite the public to look at our policies. And I would invite the Conservative candidate to make clear HIS policy on Europe.
Unfortunately, as history has taught us only too well, if you scrutinize the Conservative policies you will not get a clear picture as they tend to say one thing and then do another.
The only thing that you can be sure of is that their taxation policies will steal from the poor and give to the rich.
Reg Shore Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Lincoln Constituency.