Liberal Democrats looking forward

Reflecting on the recent Liberal Democrat 2015 conference, an article by Nick Pearce in the latest IPPR newsletter warns the party that it cannot claim the centre ground by merely defining itself against other parties. While it has so far struck distinctive liberal stances in some areas, it has remained silent on other questions. As it reckons with the difficult choices ahead, the party should, Nick says, seek inspiration from Jo Grimond, its leader of the late 1950s and 60s, when the old Liberal Party had only a handful of MPs, but rebuilt itself. These and other issues were discussed at IPPR's packed 'Where next for the Liberal Democrats?' panel event at Conference, a podcast of which is now available. In it, major figures including Baroness Williams, Simon Hughes and Baroness Suttie discuss the continuing importance of liberal ideas, and lessons from the Coalition.

Link for blog and podcast

http://www.ippr.org/nicks-blog/21st-century-liberalism-grimonds-guide-to-a-positive-vision-for-the-liberal-democrats?utm_source=IPPR+weekly+newsletter&utm_campaign=4c918676e5-IPPR-news-140925_Lab%2BLib-confs_J22.2&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0b30c067fe-4c918676e5-277563765