Our main focus for the election was to promote the idea of national and political Sef-Determination. Slowly but surely we are making this a real political issue. To this end we are already making plans for future elections.

ONE vital element of Self-Determination is Distributism. Distributism seeks to make the ownership of property and the means of production, distribution and exchange as widespread as is possible. This is why the National Liberal Party supports – in particular – local shops, businesses and the self-employed.

Distributism also seeks to keep the role of the state in the running of the nation to a bare minimum. However, there are certain key strategic sectors that require the state to oversee them. We propose that this is carried out – where possible – by co-operatives or employee-customer management models.

As always, the NLP wishes to encourage debate and feedback – good, bad or indifferent. To let us know what you think of our ideas relating to Political Self-Determination, simply go to our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/52739504313/ and look out for this article – simply post your views in the comments section.

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Key Strategic Sectors

Co-Operatives will ensure that workers own and owners work!

• Certain sectors of the economy are key industries that helpthe rest of the country function. Because they would cause the collapse of large portions of the economy if they fail, they should not be vulnerable to the whims of the free market.

The National Liberal Party will identify essential “key industries” (rail network, roads infrastructure, energy utilities, and healthcare) that should be managed carefully. At a bare minimum, ownership should be limited to UK citizens or companies 90% owned by UK citizens (by restricting sale of shares). Serious consideration should be made into either nationalisation, forming a co-op, or employee-customer management models. Usually, the “profit motive” does provide the best interests of the nation. But when taken to excess, or when deliberately abused, or when a company is asset-striped in line with capitalist “rules,” it can be devastating for the nation and people. The USA and other countries carefully control ownership of key industries for a reason. We should be doing likewise.

The NHS

• We will maintain and invest in the NHS and keep it in public hands. The NHS should not be judged as a profit making exercise, but as a public service.

We believe that the NHS should be available to provide medical care free at point-of-need to all.

Gas, Electricity, and Water

• We will investigate alternative management options for theutility companies, such as employee-managed or customer-managed. Any profits from these utilities must be used to reinvest in the utilities.

We believe that gas, electricity and water supplies could be considered as essential “key industries” (as outlined in the section on Key Strategic Sectors) and should be treated accordingly.

Railways

• We will re-nationalise the railways.

Rail should become a service again. Second class fares would be reduced and first class fares increased. We will investigate alternative management options for the rail companies, such as employee-managed or customer-managed. Any profits from these companies must be used to reinvest in the utilities.

To obtain your FREE copy of the NLP Manifesto, simply click here: http://nationalliberal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/GEManifesto.pdf

NATIONAL LIBERALS believe that education is the key to a future confident, informed and content Britain. It is criminal that children are still leaving school unable to read and write. What chance do they have for the furure?

We are particularly interested in offering as much opportunity to non-academic children – in the form of training in a practical trade – as we do for academic children.

As always, the NLP wishes to encourage debate and feedback – good, bad or indifferent. To let us know what you think of our ideas relating to Political Self-Determination, simply go to our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/52739504313/ and look out for this article – simply post your views in the comments section.

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Education

The NLP will ensure that training in a practical trade is given the same level of support that university education receives.

Secondary Education

• We will ensure education includes a heavy focus on good citizenship.

We feel that effectively showing respect for others will have a positive effect in reducing anti-social behaviour among youngsters.

Faith Schools

• There will be no public funding of schools that refuse to teach a positive awareness all faiths and philosophies.

Any school (faith or not) should be able to receive full public funding, provided it maintains full freedom of religious expression for its students and teach about all religions equally. A ‘faith’ school could continue receiving government funding, provided all activities specific to their faith are optional.

Higher Education

• We will give young people the choice of a university education or training in a practical trade.

Young people should be free to choose vocational training instead of a university-focused “A-level” route, and it should be presented as a viable option. Such courses should receive at least the same level of support that university education receives.

University Bursaries for Poorer Students

• Bursaries will be available for gifted young people who wishto go to university.

Opportunity for all and privilege for none should extend to education.

Apprenticeships

• We will introduce tax breaks to companies who offer apprenticeships, and further breaks for companies that offered a guaranteed minimum 12 months contract on the new ‘living wage’ at the end of that apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships – especially those that can also offer guaranteed work for a year – are literally the building blocks for future employment.

THE MAIN THRUST of the National Liberal Party’s General Election campaign has been the promotion of both National and Political Self-Determination.

Our support for Political Self-Determination is very evident in this section of our manifesto. This is particularly so with our call for a referendum on the question of the decriminalisation of using some drugs. Readers should also check out our call for civil and religious liberties for all.

As always, the NLP wishes to encourage debate and feedback – good, bad or indifferent. To let us know what you think of our ideas relating to Political Self-Determination, simply go to our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/52739504313/ and look out for this article – simply post your views in the comments section.

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Domestic Policy

The NLP believes that the people should decide important issues of the day.

Official Statistics

• We will record self-identified national or regional identity in addition to official or “passport” nationality in government statistics.

National minorities from within foreign countries should be recorded as an additional statistic in the census and other government statistics, in addition to existing ‘similar’ sections (such as legal nationality, ethnic origin, and religious affiliation). This would allow, for example, the Kashmiri diaspora to be identified as distinct from the more general Indian immigration.

Build for Britain

• We will “Build for Britain”.

“Build for Britain” is a campaign to develop expertise in construction, which would then be a tradable asset when bidding for international construction contracts, strengthening the British economy at the same time as fixing the housing crisis.

Religious Slaughter of Animals

• The provenance and method of slaughter of all meat products must be clearly indicated, so that customers can make an informed choice.

We believe in animal rights – but at the same time we must respect the freedom to express religion in private.

Arts Council

• Reinstate arts council funding.

We believe that supporting all forms of the arts should be seen as a function of national government.

Recreational Drugs

• We will organise a referendum on the decriminalisation ofmarijuana and other class A & B drugs. Re-invest savings into education and rehabilitation but stiffer sentences for those who might continue to push drugs.

Some believe that the current ‘war against drugs’ has been lost. Therefore we will respect the outcome of the proposed referendum.

If some form of decriminalisation is voted for, the drugs in question should be taxed, subject to government control and thus criminal free. All savings should go towards drugs awareness campaigns and rehabilitation.

Equality and Human Rights

• We re-affirm our commitment to equality of opportunity andhuman rights. We stand by the 2010 Equality Act and the 1998 Human Rights Act.

We support civil and religious liberties for all. We believe in absolute free speech with very few exceptions to this rule – say for those who promote violence. Either we all have rights – or none of us has rights. We support civil and religious liberties for all.

Bank Holidays

• We propose to make St. Georges Day a bank holiday in England, and St. David’s Day a national holiday in Wales, just as St. Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland and St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland are bank holidays.

Britain has the fewest public holidays in Europe. The least we can do is officially celebrate the days relating to the Patron Saints of the British family of nations.

To obtain your FREE copy of the NLP Manifesto, simply click here: http://nationalliberal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/GEManifesto.pdf