The leading blogs of left, right and centre, Left Foot Forward, ConservativeHome and Liberal Democrat Voice have teamed up to publish a special, limited edition newspaper - Litmus - looking at the key issues facing Britain today, which will be distributed at the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Party conferences.
This is a joint posting by Left Foot Forward, ConservativeHome and Liberal Democrat Voice
The leading blogs of left, right and centre, Left Foot Forward, ConservativeHome and Liberal Democrat Voice have teamed up to publish a special, limited edition newspaper – Litmus – looking at the key issues facing Britain today, which will be distributed at the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat Party conferences.
It may not have been the Internet election that many had predicted but websites and social networks played a greater role than in any previous election. The blogosphere, in particular, grew up. A medium which had sometimes been criticised for its trivialisation of politics became the place for incisive commentary, rapid fact checking, and serious debates on the future direction of Britain.
In Litmus, we look at some of those big issues; the economy, immigration, climate change, social justice, electoral reform and technology:
• With deficit reduction essential but myriad concerns about a ‘double dip’ recession, Labour MP Chuka Umunna, Lib Dem blogger David Boyle, and Policy Exchange’s Chief Economist Andrew Lilico ask what role can the tax system can play in getting us out of this mess;
• Public concern over immigration was a key issue during the election but business concern about shutting the door is currently making the headlines. Immigration Minister Damian Green MP, Lib Dem blogger Dinti Batstone, and ippr’s Senior Research Fellow Sarah Mulley examine whether Britain is full;
• The Copenhagen conference last year ended in failure but 2010 is likely to be the hottest on record. Climate Secretary Chris Huhne, Green party leader Caroline Lucas MP, and Conservative Home editor Tim Montgomerie ask whether Britain should lead the world in tackling climate change;
• With a national debate raging over the fairness of the Coalition’s Budget, Conservative MP Therese Coffey, Equality Minister Lynne Featherstone, and Labour MP Kate Green ask whether the Big Society can defeat poverty;
• A referendum on the Alternative Vote is due in September amid widespread Conservative opposition and concern from Labour over boundary reforms. Lib Dem Voice editor Mark Pack, Left Foot Forward’s Will Straw, and blogging peer Lord Norton examine whether electoral and Lords reform change anything; and finally
• Labour MP and former minister focusing on tech issues Tom Watson, Liberal Democrat peer Richard Allan, and internet entrepreneur Stephan Shakespeare each answer the question: Will technology kill bureaucracy?
We want you to join the debate, here at Left Foot Forward, and on ConservativeHome and Liberal Deomcrat Voice. Please send us your personal views on any of the questions, or post comments below. We’ll include the best in the paper itself. The deadline for reader comments to be included is close of play tomorrow.
Litmus will be available free to download from next week; more details to come.
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16 Responses to “Our litmus test of the state of UK politics today”
Claire French
RT @leftfootfwd: Our litmus test of the state of UK politics today: http://bit.ly/aF0MrU – by @leftfootfwd, @ConHome & @libdemvoice
Shamik Das
RT @leftfootfwd: Our litmus test of the state of UK politics today: http://bit.ly/aF0MrU – by @leftfootfwd, @ConHome & @libdemvoice
Beatrice Bray
Won’t there be a danger that this will be a bunch of hacks gassing away together? Will it have any relevance to concerns of regular people?
Andrew Stirk
@Beatrice
Great point! That’s why we want to engage a broader discussion around each of the issues. I’m part of the team pulling the initiative together and we would very much like informed opinions of readers around each of the questions so that we can include them in the paper itself. Ultimately of course the paper is just an expression of the broader conversation we want to have about stuff that really matters and canvassing progressive ideas that can make a positive difference.
Opinions welcome!
The Cornish Democrat
RT @leftfootfwd Our litmus test of the state of UK politics today: http://bit.ly/aF0MrU – by @leftfootfwd, @ConHome & @libdemvoice