Who am I?
On this blog I’m The Secularist Liberal, offline I’m Alastair Lichten. I live in Sussex with my wife and son. I’m passionate about how we can move towards a more just and free society at all levels, from the local to global. I love nature and science fiction, politics and podcasts, friends and family, football and films.
In my day job I’m head of education at the National Secular Society (this blog and its opinions are my own and do not represent those of the NSS). I’m a volunteer with Camp Quest UK, a member of Mid Sussex Liberal Democrats and the treasurer of the Humanist and Secularist Liberal Democrats (again this blog does not represent these organisations). I did my BA in Politics at Sussex University in brilliant Brighton and my MA in Political Communications at Goldsmiths before working in campaigns/project management at the innovative Foyer Federation.
I don’t always know if my ideas and those I put out in this blog are right or that everyone would agree with. But I hope whatever your opinion, you’ll recognise the values these come from.
Politically
I don’t like bullies or injustice. I don’t always know what’s right but am pretty sure these are good starting principles. As soon as I started learning about politics these values drew me to the progressive left and pretty much from my first election, I was a floating voter between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, without really feeling I fitted in either.
I wasn’t 100% happy with my vote in 2010 and so wasn’t 100% disappointed with the coalition but definitely drifted back to Labour. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was (and am) a huge fan of Ed Miliband and joined the party to support his bid for PM. The morning after the 2015 election was among my most disappointing and dejected.
For three years I felt homeless (in terms of party politics) and, while I felt they’d been unfairly punished for the coalition, the uninspiring Lib Dem leaders put me off. I wanted them to recover and rebuild but didn’t see them as a home. In 2017 I felt little choice but to vote for my constituency Labour MP, Mr Corbyn.
Like many, it was Brexit which bought me home. The failure of Change UK showed that the Lib Dems were still needed as they began to drive the anti-Brexit momentum. Moving to a Conservative/Lib Dem marginal also made a difference. Joining the party in 2019 made me feel liberated and hopeful. I don’t agree with every policy, but I support their values and as they support mine, I’m proud to carry their flag.
Work with me
With my incredible job, wonderful young family and squeezed in voluntary commitments, I’m not sure where I’d have the time for other projects. Though if there is something you’d like to collaborate on, please get in touch or add me on LinkedIn. I’m available as a commentator on any of the issues covered in my blog.
If you’re looking to work in liberal or secularist activism and would like some advice or a mentor, then please get in touch. If you’ve got more experience than me in liberal or secularist activism and would like to offer mentorship, then please get in touch.
Other writing
As of September 2019, I have 32 opinion pieces published by the National Secular Society, 11 published by the No More Faith Schools campaign and I’m sure there are a few more knocking around out there.
The Secularist Liberal 