Yellow Red Lines

The Liberal Democrats’ Social Liberal Forum has issued a call for a “Government of National Unity”. The post includes a list of “red lines” that the LibDem leadership are urged not to cross in any coalition. The post is carefully noncommittal about whether the LibDems should side with the Labour or Tory party, however the red lines seem aimed at the current negotiations with the Conservatives.

As they stand the red lines seem fine: no increase in economic inequality, no real terms cuts to frontline public services this year, no worsening treatment of asylum seekers, no watering down of the Human Rights Act. But from my point of view there’s one missing.

These red lines may well be good enough to keep any Lib-Con coalition in line. Unfortunately they’re not nearly strong enough to control the authoritarian government style of New Labour. The commitment to the Human Rights Act is great, as is listing ID cards as an example of government waste But for any LibDem coalition to get my support the list of red lines must include “no to further erosion of civil liberties”.

Personally I’d prefer an absolute commitment to reversing Labour’s attacks on freedom but I realise that wouldn’t fit the “red line” concept. A refusal to attack civil liberties is the absolute minimum I’d like to see the LibDem negotiators adopt: “We will not collaborate in any further erosion of civil liberties”. Ideally I’d like them to add “and will actively seek to reverse existing oppressive legislation”.

Without such a red line the Social Liberal Forum is simply tempting Nick Clegg to succumb to temptation and swap freedom for PR.