Rochdale Liberal Democrats told to get angry

Date published: 16 June 2006

Local Liberal Democrats have been told to "get angry" if they want to encourage more people to join the party.

Rochdale MEP Chris Davies says that passion and anger directed against injustice, short-sightedness and waste can be a powerful force for good.

In a letter to the chairs of Liberal Democrat branches across the region he claims that all political parties suffer from the problem of having too many meetings discussing the organisation of the party rather than its purpose.

"This is necessary but it cannot be enough," he writes.  "We need to do more to inspire and motivate, and the best way of doing this is to speak out loudly and clearly about the things that anger us."

Mr Davies, who resigned as leader of the British Liberal Democrat MEPs after sending an e-mail telling a racist correspondent to "wallow in her own filth", admits that anger can inflict self-defeating damage if not kept under proper control.  But he argues that Liberal Democrats should not avoid controversy.

"In politics, if you stick your head above the parapet you risk being shot, but if we do not speak out strongly we will neither be noticed nor will we attract those who are passionate about issues of real concern to us," he writes.

"The number of people actively involved in the political process is very small indeed.  Recruiting activists, the people who are prepared to give up their time to make a difference, is absolutely essential for any political party that wants to move forward.

"A principal reason for people becoming involved is anger – a sense of outrage against what they see happening turned into a desire to secure positive change."

In his letter the MEP cites the erosion of individual liberties, the failure to curb waste through investment in energy saving, and the centralisation of power in Britain, as examples of policy failure that motivate Liberal Democrats.

He writes: "We are not only angry but furious about the disparities between rich and poor across the world, about the failure of President Bush to accept that the USA has a role to play in fighting climate change, and about the double standards in foreign policy towards repressive regimes.  The list can go on and on."