Liberalism fit for the modern world

9.09.41am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Sep 2005

In a keynote address on Friday to the European, Liberal and Democrat Party (ELDR) annual Congress meeting in Bratislava, Graham Watson MEP (Liberal Democrat group leader in the European Parliament) outlined his vision of a Liberalism fit for the modern world:

"Europe's Right is torn between the traditionalist views of the Catholic Church and the secularist mood of the modern voter. The Left, on the other hand, lacks an ideological compass to guide it through the 21st century of global markets and ageing populations. Both allow themselves to be led by opinion polls and repeat what voters say they believe. This is not leadership but 'followership' and provides Liberal Democrats with an opportunity to supply the market with ideas."

"The Liberalism caricatured in France of ruthless marketeers is not ours. We cherish civic freedom to control social consequences of private choices. We recognise that markets sometimes fail and that regulation has a role. Ours is a modern liberalism fit for the modern world."