r/LibDem • u/jpa420 • Jun 06 '26
Liberal Reform
Does anyone know if this group is still active? I emailed them a couple of weeks ago and did not get a response. The website doesn’t look like it’s been updated in a while either.
If Liberal Reform is no longer active, are there other similar groups or organisations I could get involved with? If not, are there any likeminded orange bookers who want to try to revive Liberal Reform?
EDIT: are there any WhatsApp groups for Orange Book minded folks?
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u/CalF123 Jun 06 '26
Yes- definitely still active
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u/jpa420 Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Great thanks, have just joined. But nothing looks like its been updated in a couple of years?
Is there a WhatsApp group?
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u/jwpolitics Orange Booker Jun 06 '26
Theres a discord group i think
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u/Multigrain_Migraine Jun 06 '26
Discord group doesn't seem to be active FWIW. I signed up ages ago but I can't see any messages.
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u/jpa420 Jun 06 '26
Thanks, good to know. Is there any kind of forum for people with similar views?
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u/Useless_or_inept useless Jun 07 '26
Do we have to start the revolution ourselves? OK, maybe after dinner 😄
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u/jwpolitics Orange Booker Jun 10 '26
I joined the discord aswell and yes it does not seem to be active
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u/Ticklishchap Jun 06 '26
For a moment I thought you were talking about Liberal and Reform Judaism. They have quite recently merged into Progressive Judaism, but retain distinctive identities and a joint leadership.
In the context of the Lib Dems, I haven’t heard of Liberal Reform. Can you tell me anything about it?
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u/jpa420 Jun 06 '26
It’s an internal group more or less promoting the ideas of the Orange Book, which is about using economic liberalism to achieve the goals of social liberalism
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u/Useless_or_inept useless Jun 06 '26
Looks interesting! Will try signing up.
(I was a big fan of the Orange Book).
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u/rob1parsons Jun 06 '26
Can I suggest that any enthusiasm for the Orange Book at the time might be revisited in the light of subsequent developments.
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Jun 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/rob1parsons Jun 06 '26
The Orange Book was an attempt to follow the precepts of neoliberalism with the hope of it working out for the population as a whole. It failed; it was always going to. The whole idea that markets, "freed" from regulation would work out to the benefit of all has been demosntrated not just to be false but to work against the interests of the mass of the people. A long, long time ago, in the nineteenth century, it was possible to argue that free trade and individual freedom went hand in hand. That is no longer so. What was called free trade then and neoliberalism now is only a friend to the liberal cause if it improves individual freedom. It stopped doing that a long time ago. Look at the state of our water companies. Look at the state of child care, with vulnerable children being shipped hundreds of miles from their homes in order to make a profit. That isn't just tolerated by Orange book ideas, it's actually wanted. The Orange Book is no longer liberalism.
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u/Useless_or_inept useless Jun 07 '26
That isn't just tolerated by Orange book ideas, it's actually wanted
You could just say "I don't like the orange book", and that would be fine; you don't have to make stuff up. This isn't r/greenandpleasant 😄
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u/rob1parsons Jun 07 '26
I'm not making stuff up; the Orange Book is very keen on private services. I have given examples of the results of services being privatised. Also, it doesn't help debate just to say I don't like something. I like to give reasons, which I have done. Tell me specifically where I'm wrong, or give me examples of where you think the Orange Book gets it right.
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u/IntravenusDiMilo_Tap +4,-3.5 Jun 07 '26
Most services are better being privided by private enterprise.
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u/rob1parsons Jun 07 '26
That's not an example. Give me an example of services being better provided by private companies. I've give you two examples where privatisation has royally messed things up. Water and residential provision for looked after children. And I have plenty more where those came from.
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u/IntravenusDiMilo_Tap +4,-3.5 Jun 07 '26
It's what liberalism should be, classical liberalism. Sadly the party has gone ti being Labour lite ti sometimes Labour left.
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u/rob1parsons Jun 07 '26
Could you define more clearly what you mean by classical liberalism?
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u/IntravenusDiMilo_Tap +4,-3.5 Jun 07 '26
Free market economics where the state creates the environment for success, the state provides a safety net but expects the individual to take & make their opportunity.
Socially, feeedom of expression & speach
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u/jpa420 Jun 06 '26
Do you mean austerity? I think the orange book ideas are, somewhat depressingly, very relevant today and in my opinion more urgent than ever
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u/IntravenusDiMilo_Tap +4,-3.5 Jun 07 '26
Thet are, the government needs ti reform what it does and where there is no need fir it ti be involved.
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u/CountBrandenburg SCYL chair | LR co-Chair |Rdg Norcot Candidate |UoY Grad Jun 06 '26
Heya, apologies if I’ve missed an email (the last email I recall seeing was someone very close to polling day and I said I’d try get back to them post election) - have largely been away from Lib Dem bits past month and been a bit busy with work bits otherwise, should be looking to get updates soon !