Mary Reid

"Empowering people is a philosophy, not just an electioneering technique". So said Chris Huhne to me yesterday over a cup of tea.

I've always been drawn to those gossipy interviews of media stars, in which the interviewer tells us more about themselves than about their subject.

Much as I would enjoy doing that, I'd better explain that I had joined some other Lib Dem Bloggers of the Year to interview each of the Leadership candidates. Yesterday we met Chris Huhne, and Nick Clegg is in the diary for a couple of weeks' hence.

I have to say straightaway that Chris is articulate and passionate about his Liberalism. I had never met him before, but he was instantly likable, looking directly in the eye, and showing no sign of fading enthusiasm after, no doubt, answering many similar questions.

Naturally I asked him about participation in local government: New Labour seem to have taken terms like 'citizen empowerment' from us; how then would he encourage local authorities to develop styles of participation that are distinctively Liberal Democrat?

He said he is committed to decentralising, to giving real power to people in their communities. For Labour the language of empowerment tends to mean decentralising management, with the goals still set, and therefore the control still held, at the centre. 

For Liberal Democrats the concepts of empowerment derive from our long-held understanding and practice of community politics. This really does mean devolving policy-making and the ability to try out local solutions, and applies as much to health services as to services that are already run by local government. Councillors can be key players in all this; they are often the first point of contact between people and political systems, and they can encourage people to participate.

We covered many other topics between us.

Would he abolish the monarchy? - no, because we should choose our battles and concentrate on improvements that will really change society.

What is a party leader for? - to create strong teams, with attention paid to economic issues. 

Should our policy be to take less tax? - the reality is that overall taxation stays much the same; what matters is where the accountability lies.

Should we take a more liberal attitude to drugs and allow adults to make their own informed decisions? - no, because drug addiction harms others as well; but we should look for medical rather than criminal solutions to the problem.

Should there be a referendum on the  EU Reform Treaty? - no; but he likes the idea of a People's Veto, which would allow a peition from 2.5% of the electorate to veto any Bill going through Parliament.

Chris spent most of his professional life as a journalist, and it shows. He has some well-thought out strategies for getting Lib Dem stories in the media and creating clearly defined messages. He wants us to be much more ambitious as a party, and reminded us that when people are asked "If you thought Lib Dems could win, would you vote for them?" well over 40% say "yes".

I have still not decided between the two candidates, and will wait until I've met Nick Clegg before committing myself.

From left: Paul Walter, Jonny Wright, Richard Flowers, Chris Huhne MP, Millennium Elephant, Alex Wilcock, me, James Graham

Paul Walter was quite carried away and posted several entries in his Liberal Burblings blog: Chris Huhne: Strategy and the air war, Connecting with Jo Public, Huhne: Empowering local communities, Huhne: Centralised power is the way to a nationwide "BALLS UP", It's the economy stupid - Huhne quotes Clinton, Voters don't want just a pretty boy - they want someone who will deliver , Huhne: We need to be the little boy who points at the Emperor with no clothes, Huhne - the tax debate, Huhne: UK must have referendum on whether to use the new right of countries to leave the EU

Jonny (Hug A Hoodie) will, no doubt, blog later today from his student perspective  - and here it is

Richard Flowers (Daddy Richard) writes about Mr Huhney-Monster on The Very Fluffy Diary of a Millennium Dome, Elephant: Day 2501: The Leadership Interview... Chris Huhne meets Millennium (and some other people)

Alex Wilcock, on Love and Liberty, was last seen blogging about Dr Who, but I'll watch out for his comments on Dr Huhne.

James Graham over on Quaequam Blog! gives us his first thoughts, with more to come it seems: nonEXCLUSIVE: Chris Huhne talks to Quaequam Blog! (part 1)

I'm really grateful that these guys have written in such depth as it allows me to get away with a relatively short summary!