The announcement of Sarah Teather’s departure from the Liberal Democrats could well be a watershed.

Sarah is a liberal, as I am. That is why I joined this party. Many of the actions taken by the coalition are not liberal actions. In a coalition a party often has to accept compromises that are difficult. I have served in coalition as a councillor, with the Conservatives in Newcastle and with Labour in Berkshire. I fully understand you do not always get your own way.

However in this government it has gone further than that. For example liberals should not have supported the recent lobbying bill, though they are now trying to get amendments.

To those who elected me as a liberal I will be working hard at conference next week to get this party back on a liberal agenda.

I cannot see any liberal ideas coming from the Conservative or Labour parties, so I have no other home to go to.

David

Preamble to our constitution:-

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.