Deputy Leader Simon Hughes on 10 weeks that have revitalised politics

3.43.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Jul 2010

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes has written of his pride at the huge achievements the Liberal Democrats have made in the 10 weeks since the formation of the Coalition Government.

Writing for the Guardian's Comment is Free website, Simon Hughes said the Lib Dems "have achieved greater political change than I could have ever imagined" and pointed to a host of the party's policies that are now going ahead.

These include the scrapping of ID cards and intrusive government databases, the ending of child detention for immigration purposes, the review of 28-day detention without charge, the referendum on voting reform, the right to sack MPs guilty of serious misconduct, a Pupil Premium to target money at poor children, a banking levy and the raising of the income tax threshold.

Simon Hughes said:

"In the last 10 weeks we have seen three refreshing changes in the politics of Britain.

"There has been change from a government which had lost direction and run out of steam, to a government clear about its direction and full of energy.

"There has been change from one party government to coalition government for the first time for 65 years – doing what many of the public often say they want and bringing political leaders to work together in the interests of the nation.

"And thirdly, we have seen Liberals enter government for the first time since the second world war. This is a huge opportunity for Liberals and Liberal Democrats.

"Our great party at last has the chance to make sure we build for the first time in decades a truly liberal Britain.

"As we tackle the three great challenges of the economic, environmental and political crises we inherited, we have all to play for. With confidence, but not with arrogance, we can help to deliver the fairer Britain our country desperately needs.

"We have only just begun to show what a real transformation for the better this can bring."

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