The Lib Dems need a Reset not another Reboot

In the midst of the ongoing crisis’ - take your pick from health, education, business, economic etc - you’d be forgiven not to have noticed the Lib Dems are choosing their new leader tomorrow. This will be their fourth in almost as many years with Nick Clegg, Tim Farron and Jo Swinson leaving a once proud national Party with profile and power in the wilderness (or at least in Tim and Jo’s case, failing to show the Party a way back from it) 

Dismissing the idea of looking outside the Parliamentary Party for a new leader meant this was always going to be a somewhat timid affair, with a maximum of two or three well worn and familiar hats ever going to be thrown into the ring. Despite this missed opportunity, in Layla Moran and Ed Davey, the Party has two candidates who are both credible and competent. However, to have the potential to turn around the Party’s fortunes, whoever wins will not just have to reboot the Party but press the RESET button. They need a radical and strategically sound break from the course steered over the past few years. 

While Boris still hasn’t been able to “Get Brexit Done” - plainly demonstrated by the UKs ongoing negotiations with the EU - the public are looking for a Party with a new platform and distinctive policies which address the future, not just the past. Policies which consider how the COVID crisis has changed the status quo, policies which will support job creation and heal the deep economic scars, which support greener transport to deliver the quieter and cleaner cities we’ve been able to glimpse, which support the presumption against the costly and stressful mindless daily commute, and which re enforce a new sense of community and backing for the key workers who were there for us in our time of need, in way politicians failed to be. 

But these new policies and radical thinking must reflect the mood of the nation or the Party risks remaining a marginal voice in our bankrupt first past the post Parliamentary system. Specifically, win back former support. It’s worth noting the Lib Dems lost 27 seats to the Tories in 2015 compared to only 12 to Labour and 10 to the SNP. While Layla is known to be instinctively more left leaning, many see Sir Ed as something of a Kier Starmer Lite. To stand any chance, both will need to think seriously about an early and public pivot to the centre, especially if they are to stand a chance of retaking the blue wall in the South West of England. 

There is a huge reason for the new leader to be optimistic. Boris could not have possibly imagined a worse first year. Not only the pain Brexit is already bringing, he is now overseeing the worst recession for a hundred years, a health crisis which has cut short tens of thousands of lives, a collapse in confidence in the education system and a whole generation in limbo, leading to a dip in public morale and a big dent in the UK's international standing. This has led to serious questions being asked by formerly loyal supporters about the fitness and competence to govern of the Prime Minister and his team. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer’s skilful improvement in the performance of the Opposition, has yet to win the hearts and minds of the public en masse. If the new Lib Dem leader can quickly press the RESET button and formulate a comprehensive and compelling agenda which smartly addresses the anticipated slow growth over the next decade, while balancing this with protecting the public sector, they have a great opportunity to regain lost support and seats, pride and ultimately power in Parliament.