Publications

Britain After Blair:

a liberal agenda

Edited by:	Julian Astle, David Laws, Paul Marshall and Alasdair Murray
Date of Publication:	September 2006
ISBN:	10 8619 7853 7

Britain after Blair combines an objective audit of New Labour’s decade in power with a collection of essays by Liberal Democrat MPs which offer fresh, liberal thinking on the challenges facing Britain today. It demonstrates how economic and social liberalism can be fused into a coherent agenda for government.

Key proposals include:

• A new constitutional settlement to re-invigorate British democracy, restore trust in the political system and return power to citizens.
• A concerted effort to make Britain an opportunity society and reduce dependency by tackling educational failure, increasing housing supply and reforming welfare.
• Building on Labour’s success with the economy, including matching fiscal with monetary stability, making taxes simpler, boosting free trade and facing up to tough choices on public spending.
• Replacing warm words on the environment with action, by setting up a home energy efficiency programme, curbing car emissions, increasing renewable energy, improving public transport and introducing road pricing.
• A coherent and principled foreign policy, which restores Britain’s reputation as an independent force committed to upholding international law, reforming international institutions and helping the poorest developing countries by reducing trade barriers.
• A new approach to domestic security – at the national and local levels – to combat terrorism, violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

Chapters:
Blair's Britain: an audit	Julian Astle and Alasdair Murray
The Economy: future assets, future liabilities	Vince Cable MP
Productivity: a more measured approach	Edward Davey MP and Julia Goldsworthy MP
Education: expanding opportunities, increasing mobility	Sarah Teather MP
Quality of life: the pursuit of happiness	Jo Swinson MP
Welfare Reform: from dependency to opportunity	David Laws MP
Employment: freedom, responsibility and economic activity	Danny Alexander MP
Housing: the elephant in the room	Andrew Stunnell MP
Crime and anti-social behaviour: a liberal priority	Nick Clegg MP
Police reform: increasing accountability and effectiveness	Jeremy Browne MP
Race relations: bridging communities	Lynne Featherstone MP
Energy: a sustainable, non-nuclear future	David Howarth MP
Transport: the missing link	Alastair Carmichael MP
International affairs: no such thing as abroad	Michael Moore MP
Democracy: towards a new constitutional settlement	Simon Hughes MP

To purchase a copy visit Westminster Books