Dane, I don’t think the Lib Dems are going to be influenced on the EU by a very small rival party. Arthur Sargill’s Socialist Labour Party doesn’t influence Labour. Except that the very existence of your party weakens the position of the many Lib Dems who want to see the EU reformed.
You acknowledge that the party has taken a socialist stance on nationalisation, which I believe makes the con Lib claim to be the only true Liberal party null and void; I accept the con Libs are Liberals but the Liberal Democrats are also a liberal party and now the more effective vehicle for Liberalism. Don’t you think your ideas for universal inheritance would have a better chance of being adopted if championed by the Lib Dems. Clegg’s new tax policies – reducing the overall tax burden, but giving the proceeds to the low paid – suggests Clegg is on your wave-length.
Personally I want the UK to leave the Common Fisheries Policies, and see major reform of CAP. Unfortunately I usually end up being an apologist for the EU, countering the exaggerations and downright lies peddled by UKIP et al, albeit most of the UKIP rank and file are decent people who sincerely believe it to be true. And the con Libs takes at face value some of the distortions, like the :The EU has not had its budget and spending successfully audited and signed off for 11 years Line; however as a Danish Liberal MEP has pointed out this is because national governments have failed to account for funds, not because the EU is institutionally corrupt. Rather ironic that the con Libs parrot a UKIP line and ignore an explanation from a Liberal.
When it comes to reforming the EU it is commissioners and MEPs from our sister Liberal parties who are leading the way.
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