Goodbye Labour, Hello Lib Dems

Lib Dem Fightback starts here....

I was around 7 years old when Labour came to power in 1997. I didn't know it then but it would be a hugely formative next decade in my political beliefs.

When I moved to secondary school, the school was able to build a brand new, modern home which would have been aided by money made available by Labour in government. I have no doubt this helped me achieve good grades and reach university. I have equally little doubt that the fact Conservatives came to power when I was 20 and jobs suddenly were lost or found to be less reliable is a reason why I found it hard to gain employment after graduating.

I disclose this background information because it has formed my political views today. My view that Labour in power helps far more people, nay the entire country, than any Conservative government. My view that the Blair years were nothing but positive and enabled huge change and positive growth in the country. I'm more than aware there were mistakes made and opportunities missed but it was a generally positive period of mine, and the country's, history.

Having said all of this, I am dismayed that the Labour Party of today all but disowns the brilliant achievements of the only Labour government in the past 40 years. In the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn yesterday, it was confirmed that my political beliefs had no home in the wildly transformed Labour Party of 2016.

It is for this reason I decided to join the Liberal Democrats. When Tim Farron, leader of the Lib Dems lest we forget, can be more positive about Labour's 13 years in power than Labour's own leader and members, you know it is time to part ways. It is not without sadness, having voted Labour in the two general elections I've been eligible to be part of but it has become inevitable.

It has become clear to me that the following beliefs are no longer commonplace in the modern Labour Party;

• Firstly I want the party to actively fight and scrutinise Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn has consistently voted against the EU and has not asked a single question on the subject. I want the process to be monitored and fought at each step. 
• Secondly I want a sensible, reasonable economic strategy. I want investment in the country but I want it to be funded and reasonable. I still believe in clearing the deficit but at a much slower rate. £500bn is frankly unfunded, plucked from thin air and risks the economy overall. 
• Thirdly I don't honestly believe in uncapped immigration, which is Jeremy Corbyn's stated position. I certainly do not believe in the tens of thousands that the Conservatives state but I would probably aim to keep it between 200 and 300 thousand net per year and support for those coming in to learn the language and feel at home in the country.
• I also believe in comprehensive schooling. I don't want grammar schools, free schools or even academies. I would like comprehensive schools across the board and I think secondaries should be able to specialise in particular skills which would lead in to jobs. 
• Finally I also want defence spending to be at least maintained if not marginally increased. I would like to see troops given improved resources as well as support for members of the military when they leave service. I certainly want the UK to remain a member of NATO, which is again not necessarily a Corbyn stance.

Four of those five main beliefs of mine felt no longer at home in the Labour Party and so I took the decision to move my allegiance to the Liberal Democrats. I have received a very warm and friendly welcome from the party members which is in stark contrast to the arguing and criticising of my beliefs I found from some Labour members.

I would encourage anyone who may agree with some or all of my beliefs to switch to the Liberal Democrats. I certainly do not see those moderate beliefs being fought for or put forward in the Labour Party for the foreseeable future. I therefore joined the party that founded the welfare state, introduced national insurance, pensions and is the party of Keynes, of Lloyd George, Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy.