Liberal Party (UK, 1989)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Liberal Party | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Cllr. Steve Radford |
| Founded | Disputed; 1859 or 1988 |
| Headquarters | 1 Coningsby Road, Anfield, Liverpool L4 0RS |
| Political Ideology | Liberalism, Euroscepticism |
| Political Position | Centre |
| International Affiliation | Liberal International |
| European Affiliation | none |
| European Parliament Group | n/a |
| Colours | Orange |
| Website | http://www.liberal.org.uk/ |
| See also | Politics of the UK |
The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of people who felt that the merger of the old Liberal Party with the Social Democratic Party to form the Liberal Democrats had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that the new Liberal Democrat party was dominated by Social Democrats.
Initially, at the time of the 1988 merger, many members believed that the new party would be broadly a continuation of the Liberals, but as the Liberal Democrats settled down and developed clear policies as well as electing Paddy Ashdown as their leader (who although previously a Liberal MP had long been seen as closer to the SDP on many issues dividing the two parties), some Liberals such as the former Member of Parliament Michael Meadowcroft decided that the Liberal Democrats were not the party for them and so they set out to found a new Liberal Party.
It was legally a new organisation (the headquarters, records, assets and debts of the old party were inherited by the Liberal Democrats), though its constitution asserts it to be the same party as that which had previously existed. The Liberal Party currently has 28 district/borough/city councillors, and three county councillors [1]. It put up a full slate of candidates in the North West England region for the 2004 European Parliament elections, and came seventh, with 4.6% of the vote (0.6% of the total British popular vote).
The Liberal Party's current strongholds include Wyre Forest District Council and the Tuebrook ward in Liverpool. At the 2001 UK general election, the party came second behind Labour in Liverpool West Derby, pushing the Liberal Democrats into third place. However, they were unable to repeat this at the 2005 general election, finishing third behind the Liberal Democrats but still beating the Conservatives.
The Liberal Party is not affiliated to the Liberal International; though the pre-merger Liberal Party was affiliated.
According to the party's accounts for the year 2005, it had income of around £4,500 and expenditure of about £8,000. Membership fees came to £1,232.
In 2007, the party's first president, Michael Meadowcroft, joined the Liberal Democrats.[1]
The party president is Cllr Steve Radford and the party chairman is John Hein. The party anthem is The Land, also popular amongst Liberal Democrats.
Contents |
[edit] Policies
The Liberal Party's highest policy-making body is its annual conference, the Liberal Assembly, at which all party members are entitled to vote. Liberal policies include:
- European Union - When the Liberal Party was re-established it had a similar policy on the EU as the Liberal Democrats and the pre-merger Liberal Party. However over the years the party gradually became more euro-sceptic. Now Europe is the major policy difference with the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Party believes that the European Union is in need of fundamental reform so as to increase democratic accountability and bring an end to the inflationary and protectionist Common Agricultural Policy. The party believes that to force such reforms the UK may have to withdraw, or threaten to withdraw from the EU. The Liberal Party is opposed to the adoption of the Euro. Despite previously opposing referenda ‘on principle’, and describing Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown’s commitment to a referendum on Maastricht as illiberal; the Liberal Party is now committed to a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and is resolved to campaign against the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, either in a referendum campaign and/or otherwise.
- Sentencing - Imprisonment should only be considered for crimes against the person, or which put persons at risk of physical, psychological or emotional injury. Rejection of demands for harsher penalties. An end to the use of prison custody for all young people under 18.
- Drugs - Repeal of legislation regarding the prohibition of drugs and its replacement with an effective strategy of legalisation, regulation and control. Taxation of drugs and redirection of criminal justice expenditure to education and treatment services.
- Government - Allowing people to vote at age 16. The introduction of Proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. A predominantly elected Senate to replace the House of Lords.
- Civil liberties - Establishment of a Bill of rights and a written Constitution. Opposition to introducing Identity cards.
- Foreign policy - Increasing overseas aid to 0.7% of GNP. Removing country's veto power at the U.N. Establish a permanent U.N peacekeeping force. The abandonment of the U.K's nuclear weapons.
- Taxation - Income tax to be simplified with earnings under £10,000 to be tax free as a means of encouraging people into work and reducing the need for tax credits. The party proposes a top rate of income tax of 50% on taxable earnings over £100,000. The party advocates a system of 'Universal Inheritance' whereby individuals are paid a £10,000 'Inheritance' at the age of 25, to be repaid in the form of a reformed inheritance tax with a starting rate of 10%. The Liberal Party remains committed to Land Value Taxation.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Liberalism
- Contributions to liberal theory
- Liberalism worldwide
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracy
- Liberalism in the United Kingdom
- Liberal Assembly
[edit] External links
- The Liberal Party official website
- The Liverpool Liberal Party website
- The Wyre Forest Liberals' website
- The Peterborough Liberals website
- The Liberal Party Southampton website
- Liberal Forum unofficial web forum for party supporters.
- Liberal Agendapromotes liberalism in the U.K and membership involvement in the U.K.Liberal Party.
- Catalogue of the Liberal Party 1989 papers at LSE Archives
