Power to the People: Confessions of a Young Liberal Activist 1975-1987

This book explores the role that the Young Liberal Green Guard had on UK politics in the 1980s. It aims to inspire future young politicians of whatever political views the truth of Margaret Meads statement that: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Felix Dodds was Chair of the National League of Young Liberals (1985-1987). He was also a member of the Liberal Party Council (1983-86). His has written or edited fifteen books the first of which was 'Into the Twenty-First Century: An Agenda for Political Realignment. (1988)'. He was an Advisory Editor for New Democrat International (1988-1992). He is the President of Amber Valley Liberal Democrats. "In his racy, well-written and thought-provoking memoir, Power To The People - Confessions of a Young Liberal activist 1975-1987, Felix Dodds provides an insightful sketch of the politics of those years and how the Young Liberals interacted among themselves, with the Party leadership, and how they responded to events. We also learn a lot about Felix himself - not least his sometimes mischievous sense of humour - and about the clever band of young men and women who brought an untarnished, refreshing, idealism and energy into the heart of political life. Some of them, like the late Mike Harskin, became an indispensable part of the Chief Whip's engine room. Others have gone on to make remarkable contributions in many walks of life. Having cut my own teeth as a schoolboy chairman of the local branch of Young Liberals; as a student Liberal activist; a Federation Chair during Peter Hain's time as National Chair; a Liverpool City Councillor at 21; National President of the Young Liberals in the 70s and MP and Chief Whip in the 80s, Felix's narrative inevitably stirs many memories - but you don't have to have been intimately involved in those times and events to learn something useful from this account. In paraphrasing Samuel Ullman, Robert Kennedy once remarked that "youth is not a time of life, it's a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination". Perhaps this memoir is also meant to remind us never to stop trying to see things through younger eyes nor to dismiss people or their ideas because they are young. And ultimately, this memoir is all about passing on the baton - and a belief in the extraordinary privilege of living in a democratic and free society." - David AltonLord Alton of LiverpoolProfessor the Lord Alton of Liverpool, Independent Crossbench Member of the House of Lords.