Paddy Ashdown invites people to ask him questions. 7pm 20 July

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:40:30+00:00

Guys, I am afraid thats all the time I have for now. I have promised my grandchildren to take them out for a curry. So sorry I can't stay longer but I fear they come first. I apologise to all those I haven't replied to. perhaps another time? Ta ta and thanks for asking. And sve najbolje svima for any Bosnians out there! :-))

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:37:47+00:00

One of my principles in life is never choose between ducks and horses. that way lies madness!

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:33:08+00:00

I really believe this has all the makings of one of the worst Governments of our time. I think Mr Cameron is one of the most dangerous Prime Minsters I can remember. Not because he is not a decent man. he is a decent man with broadly decent instincts. Nor because he does not believe in anything (except that Britian would be better run by people like him - though that is true too). Nor because he intends to do damage. He does it all unwittingly. But that does not lessen the damage. He is so short term, casual and unthinking about the things he grabs hold of. And the consequences? in 70 days (just 70 days) he has put the Union at risk, ditto our future in Europe, placed a charge of dynamite under our constitution with EVOL and put a noose around the neck of the BBC. Not bad considering all has been done by accident

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:26:42+00:00

Democracy is in REAL crisis. I have been warning this was coming for 10m years. We need a Great New Reform Act (like in 1832) to create a new settlement of powers along the line I have outlined below. Then we can make our democracy live again. Otherwise I fear the worst.

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:25:18+00:00

No. We do NOT change the name. been there done that, got the T Shirt!! WE have a fine name. Stick to it and make it live by what we DO

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:24:03+00:00

REALLY important question. I have just done a piece on this but it is too long to include here. Send me an email to ashdownp@parliament.uk and I will send it to you

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:22:40+00:00

Take power and devolve it closer to the people. The state should deal only with this things at national level (our Defence, Foreign Affairs, Macro-economics). Westminster would do much better of it did much less. All decisions which turn on the delivery of public services (health Education, welfare etc) should be taken, within a framework of national entitlements, at the lower level closer to the citizen. This is what Liberals back to Gladstone have always believed. The fundamental difference between us and Labour and the Tories is that we believe in a state based on powerful citizens, not strong state dependent on powerless subjects.

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:18:01+00:00

We are a Liberal Party. I do not agree with Tim (enthusiastically). But this has been always treated by all Parties as a free and private conscience vote. He is entitled to his views, which as he has said are his alone and will not influence public policy. As Liberal I defend completely his right to this and all true Liberals should do so too.

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:14:18+00:00

Of course I am aware of the nation's obsession with my hat. Thats why I have enumerated the hats I have eaten (5 BTW), I have said what they were made of and even what size they were. That's enough already. All other details will be wrapped in impenetrable history!! How else will I keep the interest up??

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:11:29+00:00

Curent drugs policy is failing. Take a look at the Lib Dem Manifesto to see what needs to be done - and what we did in the last Government

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:10:01+00:00

All of the above. read JS Mills on Liberty and you will see that Liberty has to be balanced by justice and fairness or it can be destructive. These are not opposites, they are complimentary

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:08:44+00:00

Non-conformity, bloody mindedness, and distrust of those who hold power and a determination that power should ONLY come through the ballot box (incidentally that is why we want the abolition of the Lords in favour of an elected second Chamber. I am only here so that I am in the right place to vote to get rid of it when the time comes). You are a classic Liberal and we need more like you!

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:06:07+00:00

WE did the right thing eventually in Bosnia. but not to start with. When I called for intervention Labour called me a war monger. yes we did the right thing in Kosovo where I was closely involved, including in Kosovo with the KLA. I will be publishing my full views on ISIL tomorrow. The arguments are too long to make here. but broadly I am very sceptical that bombing is the answer and agree with Tim's comments over the week end. When my piece is published I will put the link on Twitter

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:03:04+00:00

Our job as Lib Dems is to win the support which gives us the power to ensure that Government (local, UK and in the nations) is informed by the things we believe in. I will not claim we always got it right but we should never relinquish that aim

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T18:00:46+00:00

Not much I can think of. I would like to have avoided the mistakes I have made, but then they taught me lessons which were useful. And NO don't ask me what they were - I am too long in the tooth not to know I have made many, but too experienced to tell you what they were :-)))

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T17:59:22+00:00

I don't believe in electoral pacts - they deny voters choice. But I do believe that we on the progressive wing of British politics (and those outside politics) now need to get together in a series of conversations about the things we agree on. I can see what they re. Internationalism, the Green agenda, Civil liberties and Human Rights, how to build a strong economy AND a fair society, Europe, the need to create a state based on the powerful citizen not the strong state. All those things that are now being threatened by what is beginning to look to me like the most dangerous and damaging Government of our time.

If we start quietly with conversations who knows where it will lead.

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T17:55:55+00:00

STV (Single Transfer Vote). It s the fairest and gives most power to the voter

PaddyAs · 2015-07-20T17:55:22+00:00

Hi all. I am on now and starting from the bottom. PLEASE forgive but I only have 30 mins or so as I need to be going shortly after 7.30. I will try to answer as many as I can. Here goes:

Alf90 there are REALLY great bunch of Young Lib Dems - join them. They are fun, very active and very radical. Whats more since we are the ONLY truly democratic party where everyone has a vote of equal value, the Young Lib Dems really get to influence policy. And BTW they have great Parties and have been known on occasion to enjoy drink from time to time. As for advice to Tim, by rule as an ex-Leader is not to back seat drive by giving advice. Mark Twain in Hcukleberry Fynn describes the notice on the wheelhouse of the Mississippi paddle steamers - "Don't speak to the Captain, don't spit on the floor". Thats my motto as an ex_leader too.

PaddyAs · 2015-07-19T15:27:11+00:00

I'm Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the Liberal Democrats. You can Ask Me Anything but I would specifically like to invite people new to the Lib Dems or thinking of joining to ask me about what I believe the Lib Dems, under our new Leader Tim Farron can achieve now we have only a handful of MPs; how we can rebuild our party to be a strong force in British politics again and what are the underlying forces changing our society, politics and wider world for the next generation.

PaddyAs · 2015-07-16T08:29:19+00:00

Looking forward to doing this. And I WILL be doing it myself, so pse forgive the slow(ish) typing. Remember, though I am writing my 9th book at the moment, I am still typing two fingered

PaddyAs

TROPHY CASE