On May 7^th, the UK will go to the polls in the most unpredictable election in a generation. Unless there is a substantial change in public opinion, the next government will not be one formed by a single party holding a Commons majority. Instead, it will be a government consisting of multiple parties multiple political leanings, multiple political voices.

It is essential that amongst the various voices clamouring for power, there be a strong Liberal voice, emanating from a large contingent of Lib Dem MPs in the House of Commons. It is in the interests of all to see Lib Dem ideals and policies explained, engaged with and enacted – and in the course of this article, I hope to convince you why.

First, the Liberal Democrats would be a pragmatic voice in government. In the last five years, the country has made great strides in recovering from the greatest economic crisis since the end of the Second World War, but the job is by no means complete. As a country, the approach to our economic future must not be driven by a reckless adherence to out-dated dogma, be it one that advocates paring the state to the bone, or increasing government borrowing to the detriment of all. There is nothing sustainable in spending more than £50bn a year on debt interest, money that could be invested in public services. Nor is it fiscally responsible to cut vital public services or stifle investment for our future. That is why the Lib Dems will endeavour to balance the books by 2018, through a combination of tax rises for the wealthiest and modest reductions in departmental spending, targeted to protect the integrity of our public services. Once the deficit is eliminated, debt can begin to be repaid and future increase in revenue utilised to further invest in public services and infrastructure. The NHS can receive increased investment to meet the demands of an ageing population and rising medical cost and the education system, to ensure that students have the requisite skills to compete in an increasingly competitive global market.  Indeed investment in homes, public transport and world-leading research would rejuvenate the economy and deliver a society of equal opportunity and widespread prosperity.

The country faces challenges in the medium to long term – a chronic housing crisis, an aging population, the effects of climate change – and the Lib Dems believe that by following an evidence-based approach to policy, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities. In housing, the Lib Dems would pursue an unprecedented increase in the housing stock of this country, by building ten new ‘garden cities’ in England alone. In healthcare, they were first to pledge £8bn of additional funding, a figure which, according to the head of the NHS, is necessary for the system to continue functioning. Of this, an additional £500m would be invested to support the improvement of mental health provision and ensure that for the first time in the history of the NHS, treatment of mental and physical health would be given equal importance. Finally, to combat the growing issue of climate change, the Lib Dems would legislate for five new ‘green laws’ focussing on the reduction of air pollution, investing in renewables and improving energy efficiency. These programs would not only improve people’s lives but would act as drivers of economic growth, thus creating a happier, healthier and more productive society.
Second, the Liberal Democrats are a progressive voice in politics. It is a remarkable achievement that a party represented by less than one-tenth of the MPs in the last Parliament delivered a £905 tax cut to those on lower incomes, the single biggest reform of the tax code in a generation. If elected to serve in government again, they would implement further reform, by removing those on the minimum wage from income tax entirely, and ensuring that those most able to contribute via taxation do exactly that, through methods such as the “mansion tax” on high value properties. The Lib Dems would continue to close tax loopholes and aggressively pursue those who dodge paying their fair share, including, if necessary, through the criminal courts. More broadly speaking, Liberal Democrats have a proud record of fighting for a more equal society. Building upon the incredible record of Lynne Featherstone MP, who pioneered the legalisation of same-sex marriage, they would continue to fight for equality for the LGBT community by tackling, amongst other things, homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools. The work of Jo Swinson MP, who legislated for shared parental leave, would also be built upon, and the fight to end the gender pay gap would continue, by introducing new rules on pay transparency, to shame offending firms into reforming their pay scales.

A progressive approach is also vital to our education system. Via £2.5bn of targeted support – the ‘pupil premium’ – the Lib Dems have already provided unparalleled support to schools, in an attempt to close the educational attainment gap. In the next government, the Liberal Democrats would go further, guaranteeing education funding from nursery up to the age of 19, extending free school meals to all primary school pupils, and expanding the apprenticeships programme and vocational education schemes. Developing the education system, through both a continual drive for higher standards in teaching, and practical measures like discounted bus travel for 16-21 year olds, is central to the Liberal Democrat vision: A vision that sees the UK by 2015 as a country free of illiteracy and innumeracy and whose education system would ensure not only that school leavers can find a job, but provides them with the tools to excel in life more generally.

Finally, Liberal Democrats are a principled liberal voice in Parliament. It is no accident that their manifesto opens with a radical vision for Britain in 2020. Once again, Liberal Democrats lead the calls for fundamental change to the way the country is run. They believe strongly in the necessity for a fairer voting system, to end the current travesty of millions of ‘wasted’ votes in safe seats, and the lowering of the voting age to 16. Further devolution is also necessary; not just to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but to cities and regions across the United Kingdom, in addition to a constitutional convention to consider far-reaching reforms to the organs of central government. Moreover, the Lib Dems would fight a new system for political party funding, to end the power of vested interest and increase transparency and accountability in politics.
Alongside these calls for radical governmental change, the Lib Dems would continue to stand up for principles such as the defence of civil liberties. In this Parliament, Lib Dem MPs blocked the ‘Snoopers Charter’ and the introduction of ID cards, as well as supporting measures to reduce intrusive CCTV and stop fingerprinting of children in schools. In the next Parliament, the Lib Dem defence of the right to privacy would continue. Lib Dem MPs would call for a Digital Bill of Rights, and the implementation of further legislation to protect freedom of speech and the right to protest.

Furthermore, Liberal Democrats continue to believe in the principles of internationalism and multilateralism in foreign policy, including the use of diplomatic methods of conflict resolution. Lib Dem MPs will vote against any like-for-like replacement of Trident, in particular the renewal of a ‘continuous at sea deterrent’, a relic of Cold War brinkmanship unsuited to the modern global landscape. Furthermore, Lib Dems remain firmly in favour of Britain’s membership of the European Union, and would press for reforms to its operation, in Britain’s interests.

On May 8^th, we will undoubtedly awaken to a new political landscape, a world of multiple possible governments, multiple political forces, and multiple competing voices.  Ultimately, I believe it essential that there be a strong pragmatic voice calling for a reasoned approach to the challenges our country will face over the next five years; from the economy, to housing and to the environment. Further it is imperative that there be a strong progressive voice to fight for the removal of the poorest from income tax, to rectify the scourge of educational underachievement and to defend the right of all citizens to receive equal treatment. I believe it is vital that there be a strong principled voice, unafraid to advocate monumental change to how the country is run, unashamed to defend civil liberties, and unapologetic in its belief for Britain to play a constructive role in the world. I believe we need Liberal Democrat MPs to be present in force to advocate a pragmatic, progressive and principled approach, and deliver a strong economy, a fair society, and a country in which there is opportunity for all.

By Sam Rakestrow and Syed Imam