Jeremy Browne’s Liberal Democrat values
I can sum up my Liberal Democrat principles in three words: opportunity, choice and tolerance.
Opportunity:
Expanding opportunity is at the core of my politics. I want every person to be able to maximise their potential, achieve their ambitions, and to have every chance to make their individual dreams come true.
That explains why improving education standards and opportunities is my number one political priority. I support giving every school pupil the tools to make a success of their life. That means striving for excellent exam results, and having a good learning environment in schools. But it is also about creating broad horizons for young people, allowing them to become responsible and considerate citizens, and fostering their creativity and sense of adventure.
And education isn’t just for children. I always admire people who are pushing back their personal boundaries, learning new skills, and exploring different areas of learning. Maybe they are preparing for a career change, or gearing-up for parenthood, or using their retirement to travel to new locations. Expanding education and opportunity is a lifelong process.
I regularly visit schools across Taunton constituency, meeting with headteachers and discussing how improvements can be made and maintained. I want Somerset’s schools to have the best and to be the best. That is my ambition.
Choice:
Choice is a central Liberal Democrat belief. Over the past twenty years Britain has experienced a huge growth in consumer choices.
We now have 24-hour shopping, even in medium-sized towns. We have ever more television channels, and holiday destinations, and career opportunities. Leisure opportunities have expanded, with more bars, restaurants and sporting events.
The task for politicians is to bring that customer-orientated approach to improving Britain’s public services. The danger to public services does not come from reform, it comes from avoiding reform and becoming out-dated.
The role of the Liberal Democrats is to modernise our public services and make sure we put the patients, pupils and passengers first.
That means, alongside the welcome extra investment in hospitals and healthcare, there is also greater flexibility so that patients can be treated sooner and at times that are more convenient for them.
It is really important to fund education properly, but reforms have to ensure that the money is spent wisely and result in real benefits for pupils and their parents.
And our public transport system has to start being more like a public service, with greater concentration on improving the affordability and reliability for passengers.
So there is a huge challenge facing politicians, which is to use their position to give better choices to the public, and to overhaul our public services.
Tolerance:
People should also feel free to choose how to live their own lives. We all benefit from having a tolerant and understanding society, and politicians should resist the temptation to be bossy and prescriptive.
I value individual identity and freedom of expression. I don’t want people to feel bound by conformity or corralled into convention.
Of course, we all have a duty to behave responsibly and respectfully towards one another. We should think through the consequences of our choices, and strive to prevent ourselves from being narrowly selfish.
But the opening up of society over the past 50 years has, on balance, been a force for good. People enjoy greater freedom than before – more choice about their personal relationships, their career paths and where they decide to live. We have matured as a society, and discovered a greater tolerance.
This is the very essence of liberalism.
Jeremy Browne’s current priority policy areas
Raising school standards and improving healthcare:
The Liberal Democrats stand for high-quality public services. I fully understand the importance to the community of Musgrove Park Hospital, am a strong supporter of local schools (including being a Governor at Taunton’s Ladymead Community School), and have spent valuable time with the emergency services, such as Somerset Fire Service.
Cutting crime:
Tackling crime is important. I have been on fact-finding tours with Avon and Somerset Police, Taunton’s Neighbourhood Wardens and the North Deane Parish Wardens. I would like greater priority to be given to reducing serious anti-social crimes such as car-theft, vandalism and graffiti, all of which reduce people’s quality of life.
Supporting rural communities:
I will always champion rural and village communities, and have campaigned for local post offices, pubs, traditional brewers and village shops. I back the farming community, support Somerset’s local producers, and I am particularly keen to see new technology used to bring greater economic prosperity to rural areas.
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