I'm With Jo
Photograph of Liberal Democratic Party leader Jo Swinson. Photo courtesy of the Daily Express.
At last year' conference of the Liberal Democratic Party, listeners could hear delegates singing the self-deprecating lyrics, 'No one knows our message /We'll keep it under wraps /Except on maybe Brexit /Where we've policies on tap'.
These lyrics were the sounds of a dying party, with unclear policies, a shrinking electorate, under threat from new centrist parties, and facing obscurity. However, that image changed with the European Union elections and the ascension of their new leader, Jo Swinson.
Last May, the United Kingdom participated in the European Union elections, in which the Liberal Democrats, under leader Sir Vince Cable, won second place, after Nigel Farage's right-wing Brexit Party.
The results came as a surprise to many Britons, as Mr Farage and Ms Swinson defeated both the Labour and Conservative parties, which generally dominate British politics. The election also dismissed other centrist parties, such as the Independent Group for Change, and established the Liberal Democrats as the leading party for those interested in Remaining within the European Union.
In July, Ms Swinson defeated Ed Davey to be the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party. Although it was a contested election, Ms Swinson and Mr Davey continue to work together harmoniously. Mr Davey was promoted to Deputy Leader of the party, a sign of party unity which is much more difficult to find amongst other parties.
Conservative Party Leader, Boris Johnson, and Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, have inharmoniously swung their parties to the political extremes. Ms Swinson has monopolised on these moves, by touting her party's centrist message and picking up centrist voters and MPs from the flanks of both parties.
Ms Swinson has especially targetted Mr Corbyn and the Labour Party for not taking a clear stance on Brexit and directing his party towards democratic socialism (see article: Corbyn's Dilemma).
If he is not victorious in the next election, as reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation, many party leaders expect Mr Corbyn to stand down as leader. However, it is unlikely that the next leader would be less radical than the current leadership. Thus cementing the Liberal Democrat's appeal to centrists and Remainers.
By making the Liberal Democrats the face of the Remain movement, and responsible governance, the Liberal Democrats are poised to significantly expand their membership in the House of Commons.
If they come to govern, the Liberal Democrats would demand a Second Referendum on Brexit and intend to campaign for Remain. While the Labour Party also promises a Second Referendum, Mr Corbyn refuses to endorse a position in the Brexit debate (except to denounce a no-deal option), according to The Guardian.
It is also unlikely that Labour would join the Liberal Democrats or be pressured to support Remain, as both Mr Corbyn and Ms Swinson have ruled out such an arrangement.
Labour has come to an agreement with the Greens (and environmental party) and Plaid Cymru (a Welsh liberal party) to not contest a number of seats, so as to not split the Remain vote, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Many voters hoped that Labour and the Scottish Nationalist Party (a Scottish separatist party who endorses Remain) to join this pact in some capacity, however, both have refused to do so.
Labour has little chance of coming to power with a majority, however, they might be able to form a minority government with lukewarm support from the Scottish National Party or the Liberal Democrats.
Even with a minority government, Labour could do incredible harm to the British economy. Mr Corbyn promises to nationalise all independent schools, retool the Bank of England, and nationalise many large corporations (including British Steel), according to The Economist.
These policies would certainly alienate business and banks, like Morgan Stanely and Goldman Sachs, (prompting many to move to Ireland or mainland Europe).
Mr Corbyn is also a lifetime sceptic of NATO and the European Union, a characteristic which would further alienate the United Kingdom from their European and Atlantic partners. Mr Corbyn would be likely to ignore authoritarians who are sympathetic to his policies (such as Venezuelan President Niccolás Maduro and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko).
The Liberal Democrats must challenge their far-left policies, and represent and centre and centre-left.
Boris Johnson, on the other hand, is a well known Eurosceptic and has shifted his party to a hard-right stance. His ascension as Conservative leader was largely a reaction to the Brexit Party, in the hope that Mr Johnson could halt Nigel Farage's power.
Although it seems that that plan has worked, with most polls reporting that the Brexit Party will win no a minimal amount or even no seats, the Conservative leadership has surrendered their centre flank. Mr Johnson has expelled many centrist-Conservative MPs from the Parliamentary Party, who opposed his policies, as reported by Business Insider.
These expusions showed many voters that Mr Johnson would not tolerate members who disagree with his administration.
Mr Johnson called this election because MPs could not agree on whether or not to adopt his 'Canada Minus' plan, or whether to leave at all.
Mr Johnson's Brexit plan would be incredibly destructive to the British economy, being only slightly better than leaving with no deal. His deal also pushes Northern Ireland closer to the nation of Ireland, by rejecting a backstop agreement.
Although the Chancellor refuses to release economic figures relating to Mr Johnson's Brexit plan, UK in a Changing Europe, an academic think-tank based at King's College London, reported that incomes would fall by 6.4 per cent compared with what they would otherwise have been, equivalent to some £2,000 per person. That would be £500 more than what Prime-Minister Theresa May's plan would have costed and is only £500 less than if the United Kingdom left with no deal at all.
The deal also betrays the Democratic Unionist Party, a far-right Northern Irish Party that currently supports the Conservatives.
The Conservatives also promise to enact policies to create an almost complete laissez-faire economic system and stem migrant and European populations in the UK.
Many Scottish voters are now turning to the Scottish National Party (SNP), whose leader, Niccola Sturgeon, has promised a plebiscite on Scottish independence, as reported by the Financial Times. This would be a mistake.
Although the SNP is a Europeanist party, a Scottish Republic would create incredible economic and social harm to the region, as the Scottish economy is far too entangled with British business. Such an action would create almost unheard-of social and legal troubles at precisely the wrong time.
Ms Swinson, born in Glasgow herself, opposes such a referendum, and many hope that she can regain Scottish seat that the Liberal Democrats lost many years ago.
Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn have been unwilling to attend a televised debate with Ms Swinson. The Liberal Democrats have launched a civil suit against ITV (a British television station), over their exclusion from a televised debate on 19 Nov., according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Ms Swinson has used this exclusion to accuse Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn of being afraid to debate her and refusing to engage the centrist field.
The election will take place on 12 December, and the field is incredibly divided. Although the Conservatives hold a significant lead over other parties, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have been closing the gap.
The United Kingdom must remain in the European Union. The Bank of England, International Monetary Fund, as well as countless other organisations and economists report that Brexit will significantly damage the British economy. Exports will fall, GDP will contract, medicine and food supplies will dwindle, separatist movements will flare-up, the workforce will shrink, and diplomatic relations will be forever damaged.
The Liberal Democrats are the only party that promises to deliver on a second referendum and back Remain. They are also the only major party who is willing to retain the centre flank and stand for classical liberalism.
If Britons want clarity, prosperity, and a brighter future they should vote for the Liberal Democrats. That is why 'I'm with Jo'.
Sources:
"Jeremy Corbyn will stand down if Labour loses next election, says ally." BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 11 Oct. 2019
,https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50016384
Manson, Rowenda. "Jeremy Corbyn: I’ll stay neutral and let the people decide on Brexit." The Guardian, Scott Trust Limited, 17 Sept. 2019,
"General election 2019: Liberal Democrats, Greens and Plaid Cymru agree pact." BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 07 Nov. 2019,
https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50327937
"A Labour government would radically transform Britain." The Economist, The Economist Group, 31 Oct. 2019,
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2019/10/31/a-labour-government-would-radically-transform-britain
Blenkov, Adam. "'The Brexit Party rebadged': Boris Johnson expels 21 Conservative moderate MPs, including 2 former chancellors and Winston Churchill's grandson." Business Insider, Axel Springer SE, 04 Sept. 2019,
"Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal moves a step nearer to approval." The Economist, The Economist Group, 26 Oct. 2019,
Dickie, Mure and Payne, Sebastian. "Nicola Sturgeon calls for second independence vote in 2020." FT, Financial Times, 15 Oct. 2019
https://www.ft.com/content/6f8a9432-ef5f-11e9-ad1e-4367d8281195
"General election 2019: Lib Dems launch legal action over ITV debate." BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 11 Nov. 2019,