Areas such as fair votes for local and Westminster elections, House of Lords Reform, and meaningful freedom of information. We will continue to oppose the government when we disagree, as we have successfully done in the current parliament. And we must build bridges to pro-European Conservatives over Europe and the euro. Equally, we have got to address the issue of how party politics better connects, indeed reconnects, with the voters as a whole. The European elections saw a dismal level of turn out.
Local government is little better.
The alarm bells should be ringing at party leadership level, and we must think seriously about how to improve our campaigning and communications at all levels. The party now faces a window of historic opportunity. The Liberal Democrats must be a permanent, independent force in British politics - not afraid to work with others in the best interests of Britain, but confident to do so because we are confident about our unique identity and approach, and want to make that independent vision count . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.