I feel like now is a great time to talk about how we approach the dizzying array of existential threats we face as liberals both politically and literally - and the importance of parity of esteem. So I'm writing another one of my threads

It's not the best time to be a liberal politically - but it is possibly one of the most necessary times to be one. The alternative of not having liberals in a world of creeping (frankly, stomping at this point) fascism isn't worth thinking about.

There's a fair bit going on these days that liberalism needs to be a bold challenging force to - from climate catastrophe and concentration camps to transphobia and universal credit. It can often feel like there are too many battles to fight at once - so we ’must’ pick and choose

But this instinct to pick and choose isn’t in line with our liberal beliefs - particularly as Lib Dems. Nowhere in the constitution does it say we’re here to tackle poverty, ignorance OR conformity, or build a free, fair & open society for *some* people in some places sometimes.

(there is a strong case to suggest that my path to the Lib Dems and liberalism was paved by the number of times I would get into fights and arguments in the face of injustice and be told to pick my battles - I've picked my battles and I'm picking all of them)

One thing I see a lot of at the moment is attempts to establish a sort of Mazlow’s Hierarchy of things Lib Dems ’ought’ to be concerned with. Identity politics (or not), Brexit (or not), The Tories (or not), Trans rights (or not), Local issues (or not), Potholes (or not)...

And this is a dangerous narrative to follow with our complicated political history. We now have a leader who tripled renewables but also voted for the bedroom tax. It is a horrific mistake insist that one great justice cancels out any and all injustices.

But I understand that the vast majority of people backed Ed despite his welfare record - not because of it. I can't say I did the same, but I've wrestled with the morality of having a very good friend who also voted for the bedroom tax for a while, so I understand the conflict.

The question we need to ask ourselves, and sell ourselves on, as we rebrand to try & poll anything higher than 6% isn’t ’what do we care about?’ but instead, ’what do we believe?’. What are our guiding principles - that apply to everything from potholes to parliament.

The biggest mistake we could make is to try and decide what matters and what doesn't - rejecting identity politics and the culture war is as much of a mistake as abandoning fighting climate change to fight poverty. I mean this both politically and morally.

Because, frankly, we’re all in sinking ships in the middle of a seemingly endless ocean - but for different people, the water is coming in from different parts of the boat. Poverty, police brutality, potholes...

Who are we to decide who deserves to drown?

I'm sure you've read that last tweet & scoffed at potholes on the list - but the little things are canaries in the coal mine for the big ones. Road surfaces in wealthy vs poor areas decide who can safely cross roads, who gets to work on time, where jobs are created, who cycles...

Also, consider an example from my previous ward. I once worked to get a dropped curb repaired - hardly world hunger - but for the little girl with a heavy wheelchair who could finally get safely into her uncle’s back garden to play again as a result it was life-changing.

This applies to identity politics and the culture war as well. You can say ’why is it worth losing votes on ’identity politics’ (spoiler: we don't) if it stops us getting the power we need to fight real issues like climate change or poverty? it's life or death!!!’ all you like

But to create a one or the other dichotomy between the two is to fundamentally misunderstand both issues. Trans rights are human rights and link pretty sharply people’s life expectancy. Climate change hits poorer and marginalised communities hardest.

This is why deciding why we fight matters more than picking and choosing what we fight. There are lives on the line that can't afford for us to pick and choose.

As individual activists, we’ll always have to make some choices. I don't expect a candidate in Leeds to care as much as I do about issues in my council ward. I know I have a passion and focus for some issues, without considering things I don't focus on any less important.

But as liberals, nationally and internationally, we can't afford to give an inch to the right - far or otherwise. Every battle we lose or abandon has a price. It matters that we win MPs, as much as winning councillors does. Who we work with to defeat shared enemies matters.

I have high standards for our new Lib Dem leader like every leader before him but, to borrow from Layla Moran, we members write the prose. So let's write a beautiful, uncompromising, intersectional poem. In the dark times we must keep singing, even if it is about the dark times.