Jeremy Thorpe 1929-2014

[Steve_uk]

Jeremy Thorpe,the former Liberal Leader who rejected coalition with Conservative Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath in 1974 has died aged 85 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He will chiefly be remembered for his indictment on a conspiracy to murder charge at the Old Bailey in 1979,which involved a plot to silence his reputed homosexual lover of many years,Norman Scott. He became reclusive in later years,and I knew more of his concert pianist second wife Marion Stein,who died recently and who must have been a saint to remain loyally at his side. He leaves a son,Rupert,from his first marraige.http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...y-1352118.html

[Vahan]

Is it true that the British view the term "Liberal" as more of a right-leaning trait, than a left-leaning one?

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by Vahan

Is it true that the British view the term "Liberal" as more of a right-leaning trait, than a left-leaning one?

Well in theory yes,as it derived from the free market principles of John Stuart Mill,which Conservative Margaret Thatcher enthusiastically espoused. But the Conservative-Liberal coalition of 2010 has had strains recently as the Liberal Democrats attempt desperately to dissociate themselves from Conservative-led austerity,with policies such as free school meals for children of primary age,which one would more naturally associate with the opposition Labour Party. In practice all three major political parties are dancing on a pinhead,which is why all of these parties lost to Nigel Farage's UKIP in recent elections,the first time none of the three parties won the most share of the vote for 100 years.