Letter: Common policies

Sir: The Labour Initiative on Co-operation (Linc) believes that it is significant for British politics that the two main opposition parties have, through their independent policy-making processes, come up with sets of policies that have a great deal in common.

An analysis of the 35 policy documents published by the two parties, starting with their 1992 election manifestos, shows that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have broadly similar policies across a whole range of issues, including constitutional reform, quangos, Europe, devolution, investment, training, nursery education, employee rights, and the environment. That ought to be a source of encouragement and reassurance to both their members and their supporters, and provides a basis not only for co-operation in local government but for real and constructive dialogue at a national level.

Yours sincerely,

Pete Ruhemann

Director

Labour Initiative on

Co-operation

Reading, Berkshire