Friday 13 January 2006

Liberal Democrats leadership

Sir Menzies Campbell, Mark Oaten, Simon Hughes and now Chris Huhne have entered the race to become the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.

I don't really find this contest interesting. The Lib Dems, like the other two major parties, are a party of big government. Since they are social liberals, they would naturally seek a large state that initiates force against the individual.

There appears to be little hope of the Lib Dems becoming more libertarian in their views. Mark Oaten claims to be a "classical liberal", nonetheless I doubt he as leader would effectively promote social and economic freedom or (from a libertarian perspective) properly reduce the size and scope of government.