Do you know what Lib Dems really stand for? We're probably more adventurous than you think!
The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.
Preamble to the Liberal Democrat Constitution
We believe in the right of individuals to make their own decisions about how they live their lives, as long as they do not cause harm to others.
Our aim is to empower and support individuals to pursue their dreams, to make the most of their talents and to live their lives as they wish.
We stand by the idea that without equality, true liberty cannot be realised.
This requires an active state to: ensure that no one is held back by poverty, poor health, or discrimination, including on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs; provide access to education or training, and other public services, including a welfare safety net; and guarantee that everyone enjoys equality before the law.
We understand that through democracy, every citizen is empowered to make their voice heard, without being dominated by entrenched interests or the power of money; checks and balances, so that those in power cannot abuse their positions for personal gain or political advantage; and a plurality of views, where no individual or organisation is deterred from speaking truth to power.
We believe it is important to provide support for a diverse range of organisations that enable individuals to join together in the pursuit of common goals or activities; and the decentralisation of political and economic power to local government and the nations and regions of the UK.
Upholding these values of individual and social justice, we reject all prejudice and discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, caste, heritage, class, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation and oppose all forms of entrenched privilege and inequality.
Liberal Democrats are proud internationalists. We believe that our country and our people thrive when we are open and outward-looking. The UK can be an incredible force for good when it stands tall on the world stage, championing the values of equality, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
We are passionate about close British-European cooperation, which benefits us and our allies. While we support a longer-term objective of EU membership, we recognise that the Conservatives have damaged trust in the UK so badly that there is a lot of work to do before that is possible. We have therefore set out a comprehensive step-by-step plan to rebuild our ties of trade, trust and friendship with our nearest neighbours – ties that can only be built back gradually over time.
We value the importance of acting at home and internationally to promote environmentally sustainable means of production and consumption and living in harmony with nature.
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So - what are Reform's core values?
One (female) activist's experience of the “English Gentleman” (not)
New Year, New Election!
North Somerset Lib Dems hope you have had a really happy Christmas break.
If this break left you in need of exercise, we had a remedy for that.
You may have heard that there is to be a by-election in Clevedon South. This is scheduled for the 5th of February and it is one we can win. We have a great local candidate in Jude Chambers, whom some of you will know.
A group of folk gathered together last Sunday for what we call an action day. We had letter-box leaflets ready to go and with many people delivering for an hour or so, it became an easy job to cover a lot of the ward.
We will also be delivering and talking to local people later in the month as the campaign grows. Why not come along and bring your friends?
Alison Crawford
Chair,
North Somerset Lib Dems
Sir Ed Davy presents the Party's Policy Review:
I am delighted to be launching the final report of the party’s Policy Review.
This has been a massive project that the party’s been working on since the General Election – with contributions from thousands of you, our members – and I hope you’ll find the results both interesting and inspiring.
For the past year, I’ve had the privilege of chairing the fantastic Policy Review team, made up of activists, councillors, parliamentarians and policy experts from across the party and around the country.
I am incredibly grateful to them all for the time, dedication and effort they put into this important work for our party.
Together, we examined the opportunities and challenges facing the UK today, analysed how well existing Liberal Democrat policies address them, and took a huge amount of evidence from think tanks, academics and policymakers.
But our most important job was listening to you: Liberal Democrat members and supporters.
We ran an enormous programme of engaging with members at federal and regional conferences, as well as through an online consultation that received thousands of responses.
We heard what you think about the vision you want for the future of our country, and the areas where we need bold new policies to make that vision a reality.
So I want to say a big thank you! This report is your report. Its findings are your findings. I’m immensely proud of it, and I hope you are too.
Please read it here, and share it with anyone you think might be interested:
https://www.libdems.org.uk/conference/papers/autumn-2025/leading-the-way
The Guardian has a very thoughtful review of the implications of Ed Davey's stance on care.
Well! THAT was fun!
Games Day! Good company, good weather, decent grub (Blush!).
We need to do more of this because the Council Elections are only two years away and we want not only to hold on to our three wonderful councillors, but hopefully to add to their number.
So the next gathering is due to be a barbecue at the lakeside home of one of our members in Portishead. Watch this space!
And thanks to our guests' generosity we raised £140 for the Portishead branch with a tombola.
:-)
So - what happened at the annual dinner?
It seems a long time ago but it was a wonderful evening. 40 of us met up and shared good food, good company, good conversation and the chance to catch up with not just one, but two MPs!
Brian Matthew, newly elected for Melksham and Devises, and Tessa Munt, Wells and Mendip Hills, came to be with us. Brian spoke of the “delights” of eventually being elected and joining the House of Commons after many years of service on his local council.
We were so encouraged by the evening that we have come away determined to arrange more events this year.
Advanced notice; the first of these will be a Board Games afternoon and evening on the 10th of May.
After years of neglect, our local councils are in financial survival mode. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to move past emergency bailouts and deliver a sustainable future for local government.
![New Homes [Image: Tim Prater]](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/a/csm_newhomes_23c101933f.jpg)
Millions of people are still trapped in England’s broken leasehold system. Our plan will end the leasehold rip-off, strengthen building safety, and give residents the control, fairness, and dignity they deserve in their own homes.
Local Election Results Briefing: Our best ever winning streak