Comments on: Can you think of a better name for the Liberal Democrats? http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Wed, 23 May 2012 13:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: mikestallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6101 mikestallard Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:56:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6101 Open Europe, day by day, tells the story of how the Irish are reacting to having their veto overruled. The major party (Fine Gael - hope I've spelled it right!) seems to be firmly against accepting the treaty by pushing it through the Dail. Meanwhile the Czechs are muttering - like the Poles may be, whose mouths were quickly stopped with (your) gold. Things are not yet lost: the Lisbon treaty may be being implemented illegally, but there is a glint of hope on the horizon. Open Europe, day by day, tells the story of how the Irish are reacting to having their veto overruled. The major party (Fine Gael – hope I've spelled it right!) seems to be firmly against accepting the treaty by pushing it through the Dail.
Meanwhile the Czechs are muttering – like the Poles may be, whose mouths were quickly stopped with (your) gold.
Things are not yet lost: the Lisbon treaty may be being implemented illegally, but there is a glint of hope on the horizon.

]]> By: Stuart Fairney http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6100 Stuart Fairney Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:34:30 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6100 Very clever use of English, if I may say so. Very clever use of English, if I may say so.

]]> By: Basil Brown http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6099 Basil Brown Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:25:21 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6099 Illiberal Dupe-o-crats. But, with the normalisation of Doublespeak, we'd perhaps be better orf with the Regressive Authoritarian Tendency. Illiberal Dupe-o-crats.

But, with the normalisation of Doublespeak, we'd perhaps be better orf with the Regressive Authoritarian Tendency.

]]> By: Cliff http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6098 Cliff Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:07:07 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6098 How about leader of the Conservative Party or just Prime minister!! At least John Redwood is a real Conservative. How about leader of the Conservative Party or just Prime minister!!
At least John Redwood is a real Conservative.

]]> By: Blue http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6097 Blue Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:10:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6097 Blueon - agreed, the LibDems flip-flop all over the place. However, a referendum on whether or not we are in or out of the EU is better than no referendum at all. Although, given that the FlipFlops reneged on their manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the ConTreaty, how can we be expected to believe that they would hold an in/out referendum should they ever come to power. (The FlipFlops might well become THE party of opposition in 2010). But the same holds true for all mainstream parties - how can we be confident that any of them will hold true to their manifesto pledges? Blueon – agreed, the LibDems flip-flop all over the place. However, a referendum on whether or not we are in or out of the EU is better than no referendum at all.

Although, given that the FlipFlops reneged on their manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the ConTreaty, how can we be expected to believe that they would hold an in/out referendum should they ever come to power. (The FlipFlops might well become THE party of opposition in 2010).

But the same holds true for all mainstream parties – how can we be confident that any of them will hold true to their manifesto pledges?

]]> By: StevenL http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6096 StevenL Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:06:01 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6096 the Patchwork Redistributive Idealist Conveyors of Kneejerk Solutions party. the Patchwork Redistributive Idealist Conveyors of Kneejerk Solutions party.

]]> By: Francis Irving http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6095 Francis Irving Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:05:04 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6095 This same thing frustrates me about some wings of the Conservative party. I thought the point was to conserve - conserve the economy, and our way of life. Margaret Thatcher <a href="http://(http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=108237)" rel="nofollow">(http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=108237)</a> and David Cameron seem to get it a bit, but why is there still anyone in this conserving party in denial that emitting carbon is going to ruin our businesses? This same thing frustrates me about some wings of the Conservative party. I thought the point was to conserve – conserve the economy, and our way of life.

Margaret Thatcher (http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=108237) and David Cameron seem to get it a bit, but why is there still anyone in this conserving party in denial that emitting carbon is going to ruin our businesses?

]]> By: Blue http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6094 Blue Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:31:45 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6094 Thanks for your reply. However, the Conservatives reneged on their pledge to withdraw from the EPP, and to date, Cameron has not offered to give us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (to repeal it), if it is ratified by this government. As others have pointed out, most referendums have been retrospective - i.e., implemented after the ratification of treaties, so there really is no excuse for Cameron not offering a post-ratification Lisbon Treaty repeal referendum. Thanks for your reply. However, the Conservatives reneged on their pledge to withdraw from the EPP, and to date, Cameron has not offered to give us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (to repeal it), if it is ratified by this government.

As others have pointed out, most referendums have been retrospective – i.e., implemented after the ratification of treaties, so there really is no excuse for Cameron not offering a post-ratification Lisbon Treaty repeal referendum.

]]> By: adam http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6093 adam Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:38:25 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6093 I like the federalist reference, perhaps with the added flair of mocking the lefts past attempts to sound legitimate ie democratic peoples republic of North Korea. How about The European Peoples Movement for Sustainable Federalism or just The Monster Raving Tantrum Party. I like the federalist reference, perhaps with the added flair of mocking the lefts past attempts to sound legitimate ie democratic peoples republic of North Korea.

How about
The European Peoples Movement for Sustainable Federalism

or just
The Monster Raving Tantrum Party.

]]> By: Roger Thornhill http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/14/can-you-think-of-a-better-name-for-the-liberal-democrats/#comment-6092 Roger Thornhill Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:28:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1543#comment-6092 Lets not beat about the bush - "Illiberal Authoritarians", "Disingenuous Bandwagon-jumpers" or "EU(bit left out-ed) Federasts" will do. Lets not beat about the bush – "Illiberal Authoritarians", "Disingenuous Bandwagon-jumpers" or "EU(bit left out-ed) Federasts" will do.

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