Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

As those of you who read my blog may have worked out I have a history with the UK Liberal Democrats. I am, although living in the US, President of a wonderful Liberal Democratic Association - Amber Valley - in Derbyshire. My association with the place is it is where my parents used to live, though I am a Derby boy born a few miles away in Allestree. Derbyshire is one of the most beautiful places in the UK to visit. I should also mention i chaired the Liberal Parties youth wing for two years and served on its Party Council and its Defence Panel. So having explained my link to the party I wanted to make additional comments on the state of the party and why it needs new leadership. The party in opposition over the previous 30 years had established itself as a party of principle on the left in British politics this was highlighted by a number of policy positions such as: The additional of 1p on income tax to pay for improving education The opposition to the war in Iraqi witho...

Dear David, As always your blog is an interesting read. This time from a cafe in Apex North Carolina. As someone who also blogs I recognize that not everything can be put in to it that would create the fuller picture. I do enjoy the historical references and you are absolutely right about the lost ten years where economic policy has been like a vacant lot in the street of policies :-) Saying that its not as if there  hasn't  been someone in the party who could and at times has been able to profoundly comment on the financial problems and that has been Vince.  On the leadership the problem with Liberals is at times we are just too nice. But leadership in the party is also about recognizing when the present leader has to go. We hasn't lead us well on economics (a disaster by Liberal terms), on education we broke a promise he made to everyone on tuition fees which the party has never recovered from, he has taken the party to the right on green issue...