LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MANIFESTO



Foreword

Introduction
For more than three and a half years, our country’s future has been on pause as the Brexit debate has raged on. This election gives us the opportunity to transform...
The Liberal Democrats are the only party contesting this election with a clear plan for how we will build a brighter future. The first step of our plan for a...

Stop Brexit

For over three years, Liberal Democrats have led the fight to stop Brexit. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to stop Brexit and stay in the EU.

Introduction

People who work hard and contribute to society should have good, fulfilling and well-paid jobs. Businesses and entrepreneurs who innovate and invest and behave responsibly to their employees and to...

Investment for the Future across the UK

We will kickstart a devolution revolution and give all parts of the UK a real say backed by meaningful financial muscle.

UK2050: Our Vision for an Innovation-Led Economy

We will make the UK a world leader in responsible innovation by building on our strengths and we will build a growing economy in which people will have well-paid and fulfilling jobs.

Harnessing the Benefits of New Technology

We want the UK to lead the world in ethical, inclusive new technology, including artificial intelligence and we will ensure that new technology is developed and deployed ethically.

A Better Deal for Entrepreneurs and Small Business

Dynamic, entrepreneurial businesses are a force for good and we will ensure that they have the access to funding and long-term capital that they need.

Better Business

Our plan is for an economy that works for everyone, fosters a diversity of types of business – mutuals, social enterprises and community interest companies – and empowers employees.

Fair Taxes

We will make sure that big businesses pay their fair share, support small- and medium-sized enterprises and ensure that income earned from wealth is less privileged in the taxation system.

Future of Work

We will give employees protection and a voice at work while enabling innovative business models to flourish in the modern economy.

Opportunities Throughout Life

We are embracing the future, championing flexible lifelong learning that gives people the power to follow the path that best suits their ability.

Responsible Finances

We will responsibly manage the country’s finances – we will stop Brexit and use the increased revenue from a bigger economy to invest in services.

Promoting Wellbeing

We will improve people’s quality of life by building a strong economy, supporting people’s mental health and ensuring good working conditions.

Introduction

Education is about achieving the best, about exploring possibilities and seeking new challenges, about fulfilling people’s promise for the good of themselves and the whole of society. The next generation...

The Best Start in Life

We will deliver free, high-quality childcare from age nine months for the children of working parents, and for all children between the ages of two and four. And we’ll invest in nurseries and Children’s Centres to help disadvantaged children.

Schools that Prepare Children for Life

We will reverse cuts to school funding, allowing schools to employ an extra 20,000 teachers, end the crisis in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities funding, and end ‘teaching to the test’.

Accountable Local Schools

We will create a coherent and accountable local schools system in England. We will let local authorities open new Community Schools, while opposing any future expansion of grammar schools.

A Better Deal for Teachers

Teachers are the most important asset in our education system. We will ensure they are paid a fair wage, and can focus on teaching rather than unnecessary, bureaucratic tests and inspections.

Children and Families Ready to Learn

Children cannot learn properly if they are undernourished or unhappy. We will extend free school meals to all children in primary education, tackle bullying, and train staff to identify mental health issues.

Learning Throughout Life

We will protect our world-leading universities by stopping Brexit, invest in Further Education, and help children from poorer families to remain in education and training by introducing a ‘Young People’s Premium’.

Access to Culture and Sport

Arts, media and sports are essential for personal fulfilment and quality of life. Liberal Democrats will ensure that we continue to invest in our cultural capital.

Introduction

The UK should be leading the world in tackling the climate emergency. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the environment, and the last generation with a...

Climate Action Now

We will set a new legally binding target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2045 at the latest, and implement a comprehensive climate action plan, cutting emissions across all sectors.

Renewable Energy

We aim to decarbonise the power sector completely, supporting renewables and household and community energy to create jobs and cut fossil fuel imports; our interim goal is to reach at least 80 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.

Warm Homes and Lower Energy Bills

We will implement an emergency ten-year programme to reduce energy consumption from all buildings, cutting emissions and energy bills and ending fuel poverty.

Green Industry, Green Jobs and Green Products

We will provide support for innovation to cut energy and fossil fuel use in industrial processes. We will maximise recovery, reuse, recycling and remanufacturing, cutting resource use, waste and pollution.

Saving Nature and the Countryside

We will protect the natural environment and reverse biodiversity loss with a Nature Act, at the same time as combatting climate change by planting 60 million trees a year.

Improving Transport

Our plan is to invest in public transport, encourage walking and cycling, and accelerate the transition to ultra-low-emission transport – reducing the impact of transport on the environment and improving people’s health.

Clean and Green

We will enact a legal right to unpolluted air. To deliver on this, we will ensure that by 2030, every new car sold is electric, support innovation in zero-emission technologies, and reduce the climate impact of flying.

Reducing the Need for Car Travel

We will invest in public transport, improving its reliability and affordability, reform the planning system to reduce the need to travel and promote cycling and walking.

Fixing Britain’s Railways

We will improve the railways, reform the franchising system and improve services to customers. Our plan includes freezing rail fares for commuters and season-ticket holders, extending the network, improving and reopening stations and restoring twin-track lines.

Animal Welfare

To promote animal welfare and prevent animal suffering, we will introduce stronger penalties for animal cruelty offences, clamp down on illegal pet imports, and Improve standards of animal health and welfare in agriculture.

Introduction

Everyone should be able to live a healthy life with the support they need in their local community. That means properly investing in the NHS and social care, doing more...

Funding for Health and Social Care

We will raise £7 billion a year from a 1p in the pound rise in Income Tax, and earmark it to relieve the crisis in social care, tackle workforce shortages, and invest in mental health and prevention services.

Fixing Mental Health Services

Our plan for mental health prioritises early intervention to prevent people from experiencing a mental health crisis and to minimise the number and duration of in-patient stays. This means ensuring all young people can access support quickly.

Access to Care

Our health and social care services’ greatest resource is their staff, but the NHS and social care workforce are subject to immense pressure, causing too many to leave. We will take the action needed to recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver services.

Help to Stay Healthy

We need to support people to lead more active and healthy lives. We will publish a National Wellbeing Strategy, reverse cuts to public health budgets, and make it easier for people to enjoy a healthy diet.

Introduction

People should have enough money to keep a roof over their heads, buy food, heat their home, access services and opportunities online, or afford a simple bus journey to visit...

A Safety Net that Works

We will build a social security system that works for the modern world – supporting those that need it and helping people back into work.

Support for Pensioners

People are living longer, making a good pension vitally important: we will make the UK the best place in the world to save for, and enjoy, retirement.

Access to Affordable Housing

We will oversee a substantial building programme to ensure that everybody has a safe and secure home and we will make the rental market more affordable and secure.

End Rough Sleeping

Nobody should have to spend a night sleeping on the streets: we will end rough sleeping within five years.

Rural and Coastal Communities

Our plan is for thriving rural and coastal areas – we will build communities that are innovative, well-connected, resilient and prepared for the future.

A Public Health Approach to Violence

Our plan is for more police, who are able to focus on the community policing that prevents crime and makes people feel safe and we will invest in the services that prevent crime.

Reducing Reoffending

We will make the justice system work by focusing on the things that actually prevent crime – focusing on what works to stop re-offending to prevent people becoming victims of crime.

Introduction

People should be able to live their lives free from discrimination or intrusion and without fear of having their most fundamental rights violated. But this is not the reality in...

Protect Civil Liberties

We will build a society where rights and liberties are protected and where nobody has their privacy violated by prying instruments of the state.

Demand Equality

Our plan is for a government that takes an active role both in punishing discrimination and ensuring that it does not happen in the first place.

Promote Diversity

We will tackle institutional biases, promote equality and hold power to account through applying values of openness, transparency and accountability.

A Compassionate and Effective Immigration System

We will welcome migrants coming to the UK for the skills and contribution that they bring, and ensure that everyone has confidence that the immigration system is functioning as it should.

Dignity for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Too many people are wrongly denied asylum, with 40 per cent of refusals overturned on appeal: we will make the system work fairly for seekers of sanctuary.

Introduction

Everybody, wherever they live, should be given a proper chance to influence the decisions that affect them. But, as it stands, British politics is far from delivering this for people.

Fair Votes

Our plan is to reform British politics to make it more representative and empower citizens.

Power for Communities

We will drive a devolution revolution to give power to people and communities and help fund the services that people need.

High-Quality Public Debate

Our plan is for a well-functioning democracy with a high standard of public debate in which there is a pluralistic media environment and citizens are educated and empowered.

Power for the Nations and Regions

We will not allow Brexit to reverse devolution and will ensure home rule for each of the nations of a strong, federal and united United Kingdom.

Introduction

The world today feels increasingly unstable and unsafe. Nationalism and authoritarianism are on the rise in countries across the globe. President Trump has repeatedly acted to cause instability, whether by...

A Peaceful World

We will build on the UK’s proud record of international leadership through the EU, UN, NATO and the Commonwealth by promoting values of freedom and opportunity for all.

A Secure Defence in the 21st Century

The Armed Forces play a vital role in the defence of the nation: we will to properly support service personnel and veterans.

Trade, Aid and Investment

Our plan for the future is built on championing liberal and international values, ending poverty and promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals both in the UK and abroad.

Promoting Human Rights and Equality Around the World

Human rights are global: we will enhance the UK’s soft power and to use it to promote human rights and democracy around the world.

Global Climate Action Now

The climate emergency is a global challenge and requires a global solution.: we are the only party with a detailed plan to lead global efforts to combat the climate emergency.