Liberal Democrats Today

Question 1

What are the core values of the Lib-Dems?

Answer 1

-progressive centrist party
-Strong commitment to the EU
-Concern for constitutional reform
-emphasis on human rights and freedoms

Question 2

What was the 2019 Lib-dem policy for Brexit?

Answer 2

-To stop the Brexit process completely, and not pursue a renegotiated Brexit deal
-Represents the pro-European stance at the heart of the Lib-Dem party

Question 3

What was the 2019 Lib-dem policy surrounding Human rights?

Answer 3

-Defend the Human Rights Act 1998 > Resist any attempt to withdraw from the European Convention of Human Rights and oppose any laws that infringe on civil liberties
-Reflects the Lib-dems’ attempt to protect civil liberties

Question 4

What was the 2019 Lib-dem policy surrounding taxation?

Answer 4

-Taxing big businesses more heavily including a promise to restore corporation tax to 20% - thereby reversing the previous cut to 17%
-Left-wing stance on taxation > embraced taxation on the richest in society

Question 5

What is the local level structure within the Liberal democrat party?

Answer 5

-Have local branches > are also organised along federal lines with separate national parties for England, Wales and Scotland

Question 6

What is the local level policy-making system?

Answer 6

-Local branches take the main role in running constituency level campaigns and can also submit motions to conference for debate

Question 7

What is the national structure?

Answer 7

-Has a national HQ in Great George street London
-Federal Board (FB) > national governing body
-FB > 35 voting members - party president who chairs it, leader and 3 other MPs/Peers, the chairs of the three national parties , a council, young liberal rep, 15 directly elected by party members

Question 8

What is the National level policy-making system?

Answer 8

-Reflects the party’s federal structure
-Motions debated and passed at the conference become official national party policy
-Policies that affect the whole of the UK or just England > voted by Lib-Dem federal conference
-Scottish, Welsh and regional conferences set policy that only affects their area

Question 9

How do MPs select the party leader?

Answer 9

-Candidates must gain support from at least 10% of other Lib-Dem MPs
-Must be supported by at least 200 members from more than 20 local parties

Question 10

How do party members elect the party leader?

Answer 10

-Party members vote on an OMOV system > uses an AV system
-Ed Davey won the leadership race in 2020 with 63.5% of the vote in the first round