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Popular Support For National Liberal Party Policy Brief!

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THE NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY recently launched its Policy Brief – a document which highlights just a few of our policies. It has been warmly welcomed by various centrist parties (whether of the ‘left’ or ‘right’) and also has generated a lot of interest.

Its radical ideas have both got people thinking (which is always to be encouraged!) and may well also prove to be the catalyst for greater co-operation between different centrist parties, groups and individuals.

As part of our efforts to encourage an exchange of ideas relating to policy (as well as strategy) we hope to publish a series of articles which provide a constructive critique of our Policy Brief.

This first critique has been supplied by Russell White from the Populist Movement. From reading the NLP Policy Brief, he believes that “there is some 80% or so crossover between both parties (more than I expected)” and pointing to the next General Election he notes that “there is scope for a joint platform – should a majority of members in both parties desire a joint campaign in 2015.”

For its part, the National Liberal Party will take into account Russell’s comments when updating the Policy Brief and in the forthcoming manifesto (which aims to clarify and explain policy).

In the article below, the subject matter is in bold text whilst Russell’s comments are in normal text.

In the meantime, if anyone wishes to submit a constructive critique of the NLP Policy Brief (which can be downloaded here: http://nationalliberal.org/policy-brief) please e-mail it to: natliberal@aol.com

• ENSURE POLICE OFFICERS ARE WIRED UP TO A RECORDER AND A CAMERA WHILST ON DUTY. Where would it end? Doctors, nurses, soldiers, traffic wardens. Anyone who deals with the general public could be affected. Even the general public could be “wired up” to ensure that they do not say anything politically incorrect. It could set a precedent that an ‘illiberal’ government/regime would impose upon threat of punishment if not complied with.

• WE WOULD INTRODUCE A LAW THAT RESULTED IN ANYONE CARRYING A KNIFE OR GUN IN A PUBLIC PLACE WITHOUT A LEGAL REASON TO BE GIVEN A MINIMUM PRISON SENTENCE. I’d simply use the word “heavy” or “hefty” rather than “minimum.”

• A MINIMUM 160 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE OR MINIMUM £1000 FINE (TO FUND ALCOHOL AWARENESS COURSES) FOR BEING DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Where would this be imposed? Inside or outside of drinking establishments? Makes all the difference. And one person’s “disorderly” is another person’s “reveller.” New Year’s Eve would see mass arrests.

• THREE OFFENCES OF DRUNKENESS OR ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL WOULD RESULT IN A MINIMUM PRISON SENTENCE. Would a breathyliser be used to decide who is drunk and who is not? Would people be prohibited from having more than two pints on a night out? I have known people who could be described as “drunk” yet still manage to hold down a job, and do not act in an anti-social way. So I would reword it to read simply “Three offences of criminal behaviour under the influence of alcohol.”

• ENSURE EDUCATION INCLUDES A HEAVY FOCUS ON GOOD CITIZENSHIP. Dodgy. The government’s idea of “citizenship” is to be “good Europeans” who love multicultural diversity, who donate to the Third World etc. Education should be to give people the skills to get a job and set up home, not to instruct them as to what they should believe. That is illiberal!

• NO PUBLIC FUNDING OF FAITH SCHOOLS. We would agree that state-run schools should be secular, but the idea of ending public funding of faith schools would mean that religious people are discriminated against, in that they will have to pay school fees, thus ending the principle of publically funded education for all British citizens enshrined in the Beveridge report that set up the welfare state. Our position is simply to turn all religious schools and private schools into state funded, but independently run ‘Free Schools.’

• INTRODUCE A VOLUNTARY ‘NIGHT TIME’ ROAD TAX FOR HAULIERS AT A RATE OF 25% OF DAYTIME RATES BUT THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE USED ON A ROAD BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 2000 HOURS AND 0800 HOURS. Not practical as night driving is more dangerous, and the impact upon car drivers dealing with increased lorries on the roads at night may cause more accidents.

• BAN RELIGIOUS AND RITUAL SLAUGHTER THAT INVOLVES CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Agree that this form of slaughter is unacceptable, but can a ‘liberal’ party clamp down upon food that Muslims and Jews have to eat as part of their diet. Yes, they have the option to become atheist or another religion but realistically that will not happen. Why not simply put a tax upon such foods – ring fence it and ensure that the money is directed towards animal charities.

Date: November 26, 2013

Categories: Articles, Party News

Caledonian Voice Says Keep Scotland Out Of Foreign Wars!

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CALEDONIAN VOICE – The Voice of the National Liberal Party in Scotland – made its appearance in early July, 2012. It was the first national publication produced by the NLP. And now it’s the first of our publications to produce its own e-poster.

As can be seen, it commemorates the high cost paid by ordinary Scottish soldiers who are currently serving for Queen and Country. It remembers those servicemen and women who have paid the supreme sacrifice – victims of Westminster’s madcap adventures abroad.

Scottish soldiers have played a very important part in the history of the British Army. Indeed, The Royal Scots was the oldest Regiment in the British Army and, as such, was the senior Infantry Regiment of the Line. Raised in 1633, it merged with other Scottish Infantry Regiments in 2006 to form The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

However, Caledonian Voice feels that none of the recent conflicts involving Scottish soldiers have been in the interests of Scotland. It therefore concludes that Scotland must be kept out of foreign wars.

Date: November 24, 2013

Categories: Articles, Party News

NATIONAL LIBERALISM NOT FOR SALE….

Nick Boles MP

The recent call by the Planning Minister Nick Boles for some Conservative candidates to stand at the next election as “National Liberals” to help win three-way marginals or Liberal Democrat seats, has focused attention on the Tories growing toxic brand and the withering of the Liberal Democratic brand.

According to Boles the moniker could recruit new supporters to the Tories without the embarrassment of the Conservative label.

Boles said: “I thought our willingness to compromise with the Liberal Democrats in the national interest would help persuade the public that we moderated our ideological fixations, would show we had really changed. I did not realise that our coalition partners would do everything in their power to paint us as heartless extremists.

“And I underestimated the readiness of some in the Conservative party, and the press, to play up to the caricature and thereby fall squarely into their trap.”

Earnest Brown

Boles saw a new National Liberal party affiliated to the Conservatives much in the same the way in as Co-op party is linked to Labour.

He clearly has in mind the experience of the Liberal National party of 1931-68 who were in a coalition with the Conservatives and some Labour MPs. After 1948 they changed their name to National Liberal Party but became absorbed by the Tories. The name largely lingered on because Conservatives could use it to show a liberal link and thus gain a proportion of liberal voters.

We were formed, if inactive for a period, only in 2006, but have something in common with the 31-47 manifestation of the Liberal Nationals rather than the post ‘48 version, and generally more with the social liberal wing under the Liberal National minister, Earnest Brown. The latter could not be regarded as conservative at all.

That apart, Boles also criticised the LD’s as really being Social Democrats (being statist) saying “Having been pushed out of its ancestral halls, liberalism is now wandering the streets of British politics looking for a new home”.

Join us now and help build a better future

Well we would agree with that final statement. When Nick Clegg sold the party’s soul for the Ministerial coin and reneged on his opposition to Student fees, something died within the Liberal Democrats i.e. a large part of their liberalism.

We to believe those lost souls are looking for a home but instead of it being a ‘re-branded’ Conservatism, it must represent those tenets of political liberalism i.e. protection of individual rights and the general preservation of civil liberties, combined and balanced with a ‘social’ liberalism that concerns itself with the collective needs of the people, be it family, community or nation. Our National Liberalism represents these values. Join us now and help build a better future http://nationalliberal.org/join-nlp.

Date: November 21, 2013

Categories: Articles

None of the Above Campaign Report

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The British public is slowly losing heart and interest in politics. The number of people in political parties is declining, the turnouts at election falling. We believe it is driven more by despair than apathy, since the gulf between what political legislators and the public believe in seems insurmountable. The lies, the spin and corruption seems to many to be the hallmark of politics.

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Fundamentally we believe that the best way to reengage the public to electoral politics would be to introduce a form (Single Transferable Vote) of proportional representation (PR). This ensure that there would be no more ‘wasted’ votes and that a greater cross-section of political views and ideas would be represented within legislatures. We also believe in introducing Swiss-style referendums and Initiatives to ensure the people’s wishes are paramount rather than rule by political elites and party bosses.

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Until that time we must look to smaller measures. We have previously reported on the cross-party group Total Democracy’s first campaign to get the tick box None of the Above on all ballot papers see http://nationalliberal.org/none-of-the-above.

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This would serve two purposes: Firstly, it would allow voters to express their disgust at the candidates on offer. Secondly, because of that, it is likely to increase voter turnouts which have been steadily falling over the last few years.

In support of the campaign the NLP has produced some posters and and a national leaflet for distribution. You can download the leaflet HERE and the poster HERE or send £5 for 100 leaflets to NLP, PO Box 4217, Hornchurch RM12 4PJ.

Date: November 14, 2013

Categories: Articles

No Fire Zones

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‘In response to the attempt to massacre the Tamil national community in Sri Lanka, one activist wrote the following poem’

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No Fire Zones

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“No” said the world

While thousands cried,

Begging for Mercy.

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“No” said the world

While infants blown

And into pieces torn.

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“No” said the world

While the injured

Died for lack of medical aid

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“No” said the world

While women got raped

And thrown into fire.

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“No” said the world

While a river of blood

Took stream on the sand

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“No” said the world

When thousands begged

For intervention from the world

Of shallow morals and hollow justice.

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Jason

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Reproduced from the NwS website http://nationswithoutstates.wordpress.com/

Date: November 11, 2013

Categories: Articles

Review of English Voice

REGULAR READERS will know that the National Liberalism has a lot of libertarian blood running through its veins. National Liberals are passionate supporters of free speech and the concept of civil and religious liberties for all.

Thus, National Liberalism is opposed to totalitarians and dogmatists of both the ‘left’ and the ‘right’ and favours informed and reasoned debate based on arguments, points of view and facts.

As a political movement, the National Liberal Party seeks to build an organisation that encourages free speech and debate. To do this, we also attempt to take into consideration as many views as is possible in open debate. Thus, members and supporters are always encouraged to have their say. Indeed, as one NLP member recently noted:

“Members of this political party are allowed their own opinions on matters; the entire point of democracy is not that everyone must agree, but rather that there is a margin in which people may disagree and still move together for the good.”

With this in mind, here’s another passionate, sincere and highly personal article by Liam Clarke, which looks at English Voive – The Voice Of The National Liberal Party In England.

As we noted in our introduction to his last review (of Caledonian Voice – check it out here http://nationalliberal.org/review-of-caledonian-voice) “Whilst not everyone will agree with everything he says, especially on what constitute a nation or what a Westminster Parliament represents, readers should know that discussion is absolutely free with the NLP.”

You can leave any feedback – good, bad or indifferent – on our National Liberal debate page. Check it out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/52739504313/

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To get hold of your copy of English Voice simply e-mail natliberal@aol.com and ask for your FREE pdf copy of issue 1

AS I’M SURE most of you will know by now I am not one to hide my opinions. And when it comes to views relating to England and the English, I have very clear opinions!

Firstly, I find it somewhat baffling as to why there is such a need now to discuss the idea of separate parliaments across the United Kingdom, in a nation that has prided itself on its Westminster government. With all the talk of Scottish nationalism (and the varying other parliaments in the smaller members of the United Kingdom) it seems that now the English wish to have their own devolved powers from Westminster.

However, let us examine the word ‘United’. We live in a world where all around us nations fall and people fight openly in the streets with their brothers and sisters – indeed, how can we forget the situation in Egypt? And what is our response to this? In a word, Division.

We are so wound up in our belief systems of freedom, individualism and idealism that we do not think rationally or logically. The opinion of English Voice is that Devo-Max is the best solution for England, and as an Englishman I can absolutely see that in this stride for division, England is often on the back foot. The English as a people are indeed in need of a voice, and English Voice is revolutionary. It’s the Ronseal of its kind, “It does exactly what it says on the tin”, namely providing a voice for the English people.

Nonetheless, I do not accept its message. Nor do I accept the message of the Scottish Nationalists. My friends, at a time when the world is divided when people of various nations are divided among themselves it creates nothing but war and chaos, and I need only ask you to look at the news to see that. Division is not the answer.

We must stay United as peoples’ with very different tastes, and opinions, different languages and customs – but all at the end of the day standing shoulder to shoulder singing proud our name, waving high our flag to show that although we a different, we are bonded. Bonded by a love for the world, a love for peace and most importantly and perhaps even that most rare of virtues in the 21^st Century love for each other. I talk not of an idealistic, leftist type of love, but a love of pride and of those we have been bound not by blood or politics but by a history, a present and a future.

English Voice provides that, which as National Liberals we all want, a voice for everyone. But here I must finish with a message. Idealism is a dangerous path that leads us towards no return, but rationalism leads us to a path of hope. At this time, the world needs no more division but a ‘United Front’ of peace. And for all our criticism and argument, there is no nation, no lion more powerful in all of history that has roared more loudly in the face of injustice than that of the Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English. The Union flag is more than just a symbol of a forgotten Kingdom, but one that bears every symbol of a different, but bound people.

• TO READ another review, which – in part – looks at issue 1 of English Voice, click here: http://nationalliberal.org/reviews-of-caledonian-voice-and-english-voice

• IF YOU’D like to review one of our publications, simply e-mail natliberal@aol.com and ask for a FREE pdf of one of the following publications:

Caledonian Voice – Issue 1

English Voice – Issue 1

Kent Voice – Issue 1

Isle of Wight Voice – Issue 1

Isle of Wight Voice – Issue 2

Liberal Worker – Issue 1

Liberty & Nation – Issue 1

New Horizon – Issue 1

New Horizon – Issue 2

St Andrews (Havering) Voice – August 2012 issue

St Andrews (Havering) Voice – August 2013 issue

• WE ALSO understand that our friends at Fourth World Review (4WR) are looking for reviews of their most recent publications. We can supply FREE pdf review copies of issues 153, 154 and 155. Please return your review to the above e-mail address as 4WR have requested that all reviews go on the Liberty Wall first.

Date: November 6, 2013

Categories: Articles, Party News

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Category » Articles

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‘In response to the attempt to massacre the Tamil national community in Sri Lanka, one activist wrote the following poem’

No Fire Zones

–

“No” said the world

While thousands cried,

Begging for Mercy.

–

“No” said the world

While infants blown

And into pieces torn.

–

“No” said the world

While the injured

Died for lack of medical aid

–

“No” said the world

While women got raped

And thrown into fire.

–

“No” said the world

While a river of blood

Took stream on the sand

–

“No” said the world

When thousands begged

For intervention from the world

Of shallow morals and hollow justice.

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