Monopolies of Power Breed Corruption

It is a liberal tradition to be pro-businesses but against monopolies, this is one of the clear dividing lines of the economic heritage of the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party.

Milton Friedman the farther of free market economics put forward the idea that is was the role of the State to set the rules of the market and to ensure that all competitors of that market obeyed the rules.

Friedman also wrote about the danger of the concentration of power would damage the free market my taking away power from the consumer. This concentration of power could be of the state or of private enterprise, both he identified were equally damaging.

The radical Liberal Party embraced free market economics and fought for the repeal of the Corn Laws of 1815 and became the personal mission of the Liberal Whig Charles Pelham Villiers.

More recently the Liberal Democrats campaigned for the change in voting system to break up the dogmatic two party system by attempting to introduce the Alternative Vote, reducing the number of safe seats, and reducing the monopoly of the two party system.

A number of MPs whom occupied safe seat had become used of their job for life, abusing the expenses system, selling their allegiances to lobbyists and taking for granted the votes of there constituency.

The referendum of the Alternative Vote was a liberal attempt to break down the monopoly of the two party system and allow voters a real choice.

The Liberal Democrats under the guidance of Vince Cable, have campaigned for the separation of the Banking sector. The Banks under successive Conservatives and Labour have become monopolised with very little competition from the super banks.

The lack of competition in the market meant that the banking sector could hold theUKto ransom when they went bust, because they were reckless with our money and encouraged this recklessness with huge bonuses.

The Liberal Democrats would not only like the separation of the retail banks from they would also like to see that the tax payers investments are distributed to the British people, ensure there would be no monopoly holding of shares in some of the largest banks in the UK.

The Liberal Democrats in coalition are breaking up monopolies that have grown under New Labour. Local Government is to benefit from localism, the house of lords an unelected monopoly is to have elections, the monopoly of the home sectary on policing is to be broken, the monopoly of the PCT to commission services transformed in the NHS Reform, the Academy programme giving schools the power to spend their money on service they need and then the bonfire of quangos that dismantled an undemocratic layer of bureaucracy.

Now we come to the topic of the day, the monopoly of the media, it is it surprising that the monopoly of Rupert Murdoch turned out to be corrupt. The simple answer is no, as Freidman identified monopolies breed corruption and disrupt the free market, taking power away from the individual.

A simple Liberal approach to this would be one man one paper, I am sure some of our allies on the left would jump for joy at the idea of this! Or something similar to the separation of the banks, one person may own many papers and give strategic direction but must not interfere in the day to day running of those papers a sort of fire wall of independence.

Newspapers could also look allowing their readers to get involved in the management of the paper by electing lay advisors that help ensure that the paper would always work in the public, not too dissimilar to school governors or lay persons on policing authorities.   

As liberals we are ideologically opposed to the concentration of power and our policies in government show how we are breaking up monopolies one by one making Britain a more liberal place. Murdoch’s media monopoly must be next on the agenda.

Taxes raised in Lincoln spent in Lincoln

Liberal Democrats in the last general election fought for a more localised approach to public services, which is in practice a very simple idea, that local authorities / organisations should be able to spend the public money raised or devolved to them in a way that best suits their resident’s local needs.   

The Recent announcement (28/06/11) of Lincoln City Council on its plans to build more council houses is down to the Coalition Government.

Under Labour, we saw public sector funding all sucked into the middle and directed out to Labour’s strongholds of Scotland and Wales, under the Coalition Government we are seeing  more public sector funds raised locally spent locally.

This is allowing councils to build council houses again, under new Labour no new council houses were built in Lincoln, thanks to the Coalition Government, Lincoln City Council can keep all of the £23 million they raise in rent and reinvest in council houses in Lincoln.

Localism was at the heart of the Liberal Democrats 2010 manifesto and now we are delivering on that manifesto in the form of the Coalition Agreement, the residents of Lincoln should look forward to a more localised approach to public spending from central government.

Why I am running for Sleaford Town Council

I grew up in Sleaford and I know that it is a really great place to live, I moved away to Lincoln for three year while I studied at the University of Lincoln. I moved back to Sleaford after my study to find Sleaford’s Town Centre had emptied and its market left bare.

I understand that there has been a recession, but I know that most other towns in Lincolnshire have not suffered as badly. While Sleaford stood still Spalding and Gainsborough expanded rapidly, not just building more houses but providing more services and providing better quality retail.

Somewhere Sleaford got it wrong, I think a large part of it is that Sleaford Town council has been run by the same people for years and years, they simply support the status quo and do not have the dynamism or ambition to take Sleaford forward.

I firmly believe I can have positive influence on the running of the Town with support of my Liberal Democrat colleagues at the other tiers of Government.

As a younger candidate I understand the importance of listening, something that Councils are often accused of not doing. Quite frankly the council does not know best, the residents do!

Any questions or queries please do get in touch, or add me on facebook.

Matthew Holden Liberal Democrat Quarrington Ward

Yes to Democracy – Yes To Fairer Votes

Under successive Labour and Conservative governments people have become more and more disillusioned with politics, this is the very reason I got involved, I was frustrated by the Iraq War, astounded by the expenses crisis and annoyed by my MP who is rarely seen in my constituency and contuies with his second job in London.

I would like to see a voting system that give people a real choice, I want to see more political parties represented in the House of Commons, and yes I want to see a more proportional voting system.

The Alternative Vote will breath life into the stale politics that is based on class…. an outdated concept in a modern democracy, the electorate don’t simply want the choice between socialism or rich radicalism.

The last election showed how outdate the old politics is, no political party got the mandate to govern, The sun was setting on New Labour and the Conservatives were not quite up for the job with their vision of a broken Britain.

The election campaign came alive with the leader’s debates, all of a sudden a little known politician took his party from third in the polls to first. Could the liberals really win power after 100 years in opposition… no.

Their support dropped as the harsh reality of First Past the Post sunk in, the only choice nationally was between the Tories and Labour, neither were fit to govern alone.

First past the post is designed for a two party system, we don’t have that any more, and as a firm believer in free choice, I believe our voting system should give us this choice.

I want to see more, Liberals, Greens, independents, Democrats, Socialists, Euro Sceptics, all involved in government, the wider the debate the better the public policy.

With more and more people voting for smaller parties, with more and more candidates putting their name forward for election, It is good right, and proper to do away with First Past the post and embrace democracy! Embrace AV.

As much as the monopolise of Asda and Tesco need breaking up, As much as Lloyds and HBOS need separating, the true is to be said for politics, for too long power has been held by to few, the Alternative vote will give the British People the chance to change British Politics for good.

For freedom, for fairness, for Britain, Vote Yes, and say yes to fairer votes.

We are all Independent “Together”

Today I received an election leaflet for an Independent candidate for Sleaford Town Council. While I welcome the competition for the seat, I am concerned with the candidates “independent credentials”.

 The independent candidate claims that he is free from party pressures and party influence on one page and then on the second states what the Independents collaboratively will fight for, with the words “we will challenge, we will listen, we will fight for” or “independents criticise”.

When groups of independents join together they essentially become a political party, voting together on issues, developing an ideology and following their leaders. Independent groups are simply unidentified political parties, they could share their ideology with Labour and know the only way to get elected is as an independent; they could be members whom are to right wing for the Tories and could even share views with the BNP.

The problem with voting Independent candidates is that the only way to affect the running of a council is in a group; therefore they can only act on the shared ideas of that group developing an ideology and group identify. The main three political parties act in a joined up fashion, working not only on a local level but through all levels of government, with representatives in on parish councils, district councils, county councils, MPs, MEPs and Lords.

Matthew Holden Liberal Democrat Quarrington Ward

Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats – The Effective Opposition

The Liberal Democrats in Lincolnshire provide effective opposition across all levels of government, with parish councillors, town councillors, district councillors, city councillors and county councillors all providing effective opposition and  a credible alternative to Tory administrations. Lincolnshire is also the home of Bill Newton Dunn the East Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP. Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats are therefore the only political party that provides the alternative to the Tory party.

The Liberal Democrats have representation across Lincolnshire unlike Labour who cling to the urban centres of Lincoln or the ineffective single issue parties. There is also a plethora of independent groups; in some districts up to five different independent groups these again provide a poor alternative and ineffective opposition.

Lincolnshire needs a stronger political opposition and a real alternative to the Tory run administrations, with a stronger opposition there is a stronger sense democracy and accountability. The Liberal Democrats are this opposition; the more liberal councillors returned, the more liberal democrats can breathe life into Lincolnshire’s stale politics and topple stale administrations.

The Coalition Governments focus on freedom

It is a great shame the moral panic surrounding the governments cuts agenda has blinded people of the freedoms this government is granting. Under Labour localism, freedom were all put under pressure by the centralist state.

Within sixth months of governance the Coalition has got to work with the most radical devolution of power in generations and the rollback of the invasive state.

 ID Cards scrapped, funding for CCTV gone, detention without trial reduced, the prison system liberalised,  school system overhauled allowing teachers to teach, NHS to be run by Doctors, planning permission to be given by communities.

This followed though with political reform allowing MPs to be recalled, the House Lords to be elected and the voting system replaced with the fairer Alternative Vote.

This vast liberal agenda is happening quickly and is not receiving the praised it perhaps should. The underlying problem of the deficit left by Labour haunts the Coalitions success.

At the heart of the Coalitions reformist agenda is freedom, fairness, responsibility, delivering real radical change not just sound bites.

The Coalitions economic policy is catching the headlines, while the real ideology of this Coalition is missed as they take power from politicians and give it to the people, so that we can live in a society that is local, liberal and free.

So what are the Liberal Democrats actually doing in Government?

In May the Liberal Democrats under Nick Clegg campaigned hard on their message of fairness and I am sure many on you no reading this agreed with Nick, it was time to shake up politics for good, out with the old and in with the new.

Coalition with the Conservatives was met with some concern by party members and the general public. But it was the only sensible and credible choice available to the Liberal Democrats.

The Liberal Democrats are delivering in government; they are watering down Conservative dogma while delivering policies from their manifesto.

• We have already taken 880,000 out of tax by raising the tax threshold for low earners
• Introduced a bank levy to ensure that the Banks play their role in paying for the financial crisis.
• Introduced a pupil premium to give all pupils a fair start in life.
• Increasing investment for green technology 
•  Scrapped ID cards and the National Identity Register
• Putting in safe guards into our anti-terror legislation 

The Liberal Democrats are pushing forward with the policies that they were voted in to deliver. They are working to build a fairer Britain, in the difficult economic environment that Labour left for their successors to navigate out of.

Politics was not fair under New Labour, the sleaze of Mandelson, the cash for honours scandal, the war in Iraq and the Expenses scandal.  The Liberal Democrats are going to put the process in place so that a constituency can recall their MP. Other policies currently in the works includes a wholly elected House of Lords under Proportional Representation, giving Parliament control of its own agenda so that policies can be properly debated and giving the British people the chance to change the way they vote in their MPs with the AV referendum.

The Liberal Democrats are working in close partnership with the Conservatives but we still have radically different ideas on how this nation should be governed. The right wing press will try to scapegoat the Liberals, when in reality we are achieving positive things in a tough environment.

As a Liberal Democrat I don’t agree with all of the coalitions policies, and quite frankly I shouldn’t I am a Liberal not Tory.

The Coalition are working on cutting the deficit, they have the leadership to do what must be done to bring the public finance back in order, cleaning up Labours debts and deregulation. I still agree with Nick, we could not go on with the partisan politics of the past and it is refreshing to see our MPs working together for a building a fair future for all.

Should Higher education be free?

I was asked to play devil’s advocate at Lincoln University debating society as no one would speak for tuition fees. As an individual and a Liberal Democrat I firmly believe that everyone should have access to education and it should be free at the point of use, the better educated our populations are the more versatile are economy can become. When the conditions are right I would like to see the tuition fees introduced by Labour removed so that those with the ability to study for a degree have the opportunity.  

Ask me my main three priorities for government and I’ll tell you education, education, education, this was the rally cry for New Labour, and in many ways there educational policies worked,

50% of young people attending higher education, the rise in educational attainment year on year, a better qualified, better inform,  British Public.

Those whom attend university must understand it is a privilege to attend higher education not a right, and that young people of today have never had it so good. Men, women and children have died in the fight to give you these privileges… enjoy them!

The current system works, the state part funds universities while the individual pays the rest, this really is important, it ensures that students buy into their education taking ownership and responsibility over it.

All the costs of university are off set in debt, that only rises at the rate of inflation, which is currently not a lot. This ensures the is no bar to middle and low income families, University students are all in it, together.

After university the average Graduate earns £100,000 more in their working life than a non-graduate. Therefore make university and all round good deal, especially as the fees do not have to be paid back until you earn over £16,000.

The State should therefore not wholly fund people through higher education as it would not be fair for those whom do not attend higher education establishments, why should the tax of the working class pay for the education of tomorrows ruling class?

Is that right or moral. When the elderly cannot afford to heat there homes, should there taxes be used to fund an undergraduates beer.   

In a period when the state cannot afford to keep police on the streets, the NHS functioning, and our armed forces properly equipped, it is right and proper that undergraduates should be asked to pay for some of the costs of their higher education to ensure that government money is spent fairly.

If the state was asked to fund higher education fully we would see only the to 5-10% of people attending university and move backwards in terms of education.

Internationally students pay much more than we do to fund their education, Obama has only just finished paying off his student loan! 

Students of today are the ruling class of tomorrow, the costs of university will be dwarfed by the huge incomes that they can expect to gain in the future, by paying course fees today we can ensure a future fair for all. 

Labour brought us to where we are

Labour brought Britain to its knees, leaving the country at the edge of a financial crash. We spend more money servicing the debt they left us than we do on the NHS. Labour based their economic policy on predicted tax return that never capitalised after the crash. 

The Coalition Government has got straight to work, with a credible plan to bring the UK out of the red and into prosperity; they have provided the solid leadership, something that was and is still lacking on Labours front bench.

The comprehensive spending review was not good for anyone, cuts to public services never are, however when a nation cannot afford its bills something has to give. The cuts to public services were done in a fair way so that those with the largest shoulders bear the biggest burden.

The Labour party may organise protests and hold public meetings, making themselves out to be the good guys, but this simply not the case. They planned to cut a similar amount from the public sector as the Coalition has done. The cuts are necessary due to Labours economic incompetence and their lack of a vision for a sustainable future.

Winning the general election was a poisoned chalice, this was the election to loose, no one wishes to be in power when the country is in an economically precarious situation. The best way to deal with a situation is to start dealing with the problem immediately and that is exactly what the coalition is doing.    

Yes the future is going to be turbulent, but we could not go on the way we were, the Coalition is working on building a Fairer Britain and one that is not shackled by Labours debt.