We must uphold our values – not obsess over focus groups as Labour does

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey on the general election campaign trail (Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

The impulse to obsess about optics, chase populism rather than uphold values, become guided by focus groups and public relations gurus rather than principles, is strong and has clearly captivated larger parties. 

The Liberal Democrats now have an opportunity to lead, not follow; to uphold our values and inspire hope. The preamble to our constitution commits us to build a society in which “no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity”.

Liberal Democrats must face down the rise of the far right. Because if we don’t, it’s clear no one else will

Though Labour has prospered through effectively rebranding itself as the Not-the-Conservative-Party Party, it has done so through adopting the contemporary received political wisdom of concentrating on almost value-free, pragmatic campaign methodologies. 

I acknowledge this has delivered astounding electoral success. A success which upholds the psephological truism that political parties don’t so much win because of the brilliance of their manifestos, as that they are perceived as less bad than the alternative. Opposition parties don’t so much win as governing parties lose.

Though the bar was set extremely low, there are early signs that Labour may indeed be less bad. But their evident anxiety of again haemorrhaging support in so-called red wall seats has already caused them to play the dodgy game of seeking to out-dog-whistle the Tories on asylum policy; prepared to effectively endorse rather than confront far right narratives. That they’re also prepared to cut the winter fuel allowance from thousands of older people, who they must know will struggle this winter, is disappointing.

If the Liberal Democrats don’t occupy the space which champions our values – to combat widening inequality; to promote the politics of kindness, not suspicion and judgementalism; to be determined to save and rebuild our NHS and public services; to promote social justice and a more equal society; to lead action necessary to combat the climate emergency – we will not so much let ourselves down as fail our country. 

We could, of course, adopt the same cynical view of the larger parties and view our job as a market relations challenge, of manipulating public perceptions, adopting market-tested formulations, avoiding difficult decisions and jumping on bandwagons. However, that way takes us into the same crowded wasteland of political cynicism as the larger parties. 

While we’re adapting to our improved position and the welcome parliamentary successes, it’s important the party doesn’t adopt a view that our next challenge is one of centrally controlled brand development rather than delivery of core values; we mustn’t follow the others by establishing a management strategy built on brand conformity, calibrating policy formulations guided by market-testing. 

Ed Davey ran a successful campaign because he was prepared to poke fun at a media which has long become more interested in ‘stories’ than the pursuit of truth. Now we need to be just as bold and distinctive by promoting our values with the same self-confidence. Alongside this, Liberal Democrats must face down the rise of the far right. Because if we don’t, it’s clear no one else will. I’m sure we’ll be cheered along by many uncomfortable MPs on Labour’s back benches.

There will be those at our party conference who will understandably seek to use the occasion to again inflate the self-reinforcing bubble that our priorities should be to promote electoral reform and to reverse Brexit. Though laudable objectives, they may just underline a perception of political irrelevance.

We have a great opportunity ahead if we’re bold and stand up for our values. 

Andrew George is Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives

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