Welcome to my archive of official Liberal Democrat policy papers, a sister archive to the Liberal Democrat general election manifestos archive.

A very important health warning applies to the contents of these policy papers. They are the policy papers proposed to Liberal Democrat conferences. The motions to conference endorsing the policy papers may have been amended, referred back or even defeated. The contents of policy papers may also have subsequently been changed by further policy papers, motions or other decisions by the Liberal Democrat policy-making process. This list also does not include papers containing policy which have, for example, gone to Scottish or Welsh Lib Dem conferences.

That said, people often express a wish for an archive of policy papers as a guide to Liberal Democrat policies, so here is one for those times when these caveats do not remove its value.

If you have copies of any other documents which are worth adding and are not yet listed below, please do get in touch. Thank you in particular to Richard Grayson, Christian Moon and Simon Oliver for sharing with me files included below.

For more on the party’s beliefs and policies, see What do the Liberal Democrats believe?

Lib Dem Policy Paper Archive

1. A Caring Society: Liberal Democrat Proposals to Improve the Organisation of Social Services

2. Reclaiming the City: Proposals to Improve the Quality of Life in the Urban Areas of England and Wales

3. Confronting Prostitution: Liberal Democrat Proposals to Tackle Prostitution in England and Wales

4. A New Deal for Northern Ireland: Proposals for the Future of Northern Ireland

5. Reclaiming the Countryside: Proposals for Rural Affairs and Agriculture in England and Wales

6. Shared Security: Security and Defence in an Uncertain World

7. Opportunity and Independence for All: Proposals to Improve the Tax and Benefits System

8. Agenda for Sustainability: Tools for Creating a Sustainable Economy and Society

9. Working for Change: Promoting Jobs and Employability

10. Equal Citizens: Proposals to Promote the Equal Treatment of Women

11. A Free and Open Society

12. The Balance of Trade: Proposals for Reforming International Trade

13. Access for All: Proposals to Promote Equal Opportunities for Disabled People

14. Building on the Best of the NHS: Proposals to Reform the National Health Service

15. Transporting People, Tackling Pollution: Liberal Democrat Proposals for Improving Transport in Britain

16. Investment, Partnership, Sustainability: Policies for the British Economy

17. Stronger Communities, Safer Citizens: Proposals for Crime and Policing Policy in England and Wales

18. The Key to Lifelong Learning: Proposals for Tertiary Education in England and Wales

19. Meeting the European Challenge: Proposals for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference

20. A Parliament for the People: Proposals to Reform the House of Commons

21. Investing in Excellence: Policies for Education in England and Wales

22. Conserving Tomorrow: Energy Policy for the Future

23. A Home of Your Own: Policies for Housing in England and Wales

24. Water: Policies for Affordable, Available and Clean Water in England and Wales

25. A World of Opportunity: Policies for Developmental Co-operation

26. Living in the Greenhouse: Policies to Tackle Climate Change

27. Our Skies

28. Rape Law Reform: Policies for Reforming the Law on Rape

29. Making the Environment our Business: Proposals to Improve Business Efficiency and Environmental Performance

30. Re-inventing Local Government – Competent, Powerful and Free: Policies for the Reform of Local Government in England

31. Keeping the Balance: Policies on Genetic Modification

32. Housing Policy into the 21st Century

[Policy Paper no.33 was an urban policy paper which, when debated at Liberal Democrat conference, was referred back. It returned in a new form as policy paper no.37.]

34. Breaking Down Barriers: Policies on Disability

35. Global Responses to Global Problems: Global Security, Stability and Sustainability

36. A Clean Bill of Health: Policies on Paying for NHS and Social Care in England and Wales

37. Engaging Communities: Proposals for Urban Regeneration in England

38. Art Figures

39. An Age of Opportunity: Policies for Older People

40. Reforming Governance in the UK: Policies for Constitutional Reform

41. A Strategy for Sustainability

42. Working for Success: Employment and Employability for All

43. An Inclusive Society: A Framework for Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion

44. Protecting Civil Liberties

45. Local Economies, Local Choice

46. Transport for People

47. Honesty, Realism, Responsibility: Proposals for the Reform of Drugs Law

48. Defending Democracy: Proposals for Defence Policy

49. The Future of Broadcasting

50. It’s About Freedom: The Report of the Liberal Democracy Working Group

51. Justice and the Community: Proposals on Crime, Policing and the Criminal Justice System

52. Rural Futures

53. Quality, Innovation and Choice: The Report of the Public Services Policy Commission

54. Making IT Work: Policies for Information Technology

55. Planning for the 21st Century: Proposals for Planning Policy

56. Future of Europe

57. Prosperity at Home and Abroad: The Report of the Liberal Democrats Macroeconomics Policy Working Group

58. Conserving the Future: Proposals on Energy Policy

59. Setting Business Free: Commerce Policy Paper

60. Promoting Independence, Protecting Individuals: Policies for a Caring Society

61. Respecting All Animals: Animal Welfare Policy Paper

62. Fair Foundations: Policies for Early Years

63. Censorship and Freedom of Expression

64. A World Free from Poverty: Policies on International Development

65. Wealth for the World: Policies on International Trade and Investment

66. Personal Best: Policies on Sports and Fitness

67. Dignity and Security in Retirement: Pensions Policy Paper

68. Healthy Communities, Healthy People: Health Policy Paper

Freedom, Fairness, Trust (pre-manifesto paper for the 2005 general election)

69. Affordable Homes in Safer, Greener Communities: Housing Policy Paper

70. Rights and Responsibilities at Work: Employment and Trade Unions Policy Paper

71. A Soft Landing: Creating a Sustainable Market in Aviation

72. Stronger Families, Brighter Futures

73. Your Community, Your Choice: Policies for local government in England [Liberal Democrat conference did not pass this policy paper but instead it was referred back. It returned in a new form as policy paper no.79.]

74. Britain’s Global Responsibilities: the International Rule of Law

75. Fairer, Simpler, Greener (reforms to the tax system)

76. Trust in People: Make Britain free, fair and green

77. Green and Prosperous Communities: Local Regeneration for the 21st Century

78. Together We Can Cut Crime

79. The Power to be Different

80. Freedom from Poverty, Opportunity for All

81. Reducing the Burden (tax policy)

82. Zero Carbon Britain – Taking a Global Lead

83. For the People, By the People

84. Empowerment, Fairness and Quality in Health Care

85. Fast Track Britain: Building a Transport System for the 21st Century

86. Security and Liberty in a Globalised World

87. Shaping our World Through a Strong Europe: Reforming the EU’s Policies

Make It Happen (note – although described as a policy paper and agreed by the Federal Policy Committee, this paper does not form part of the usual numbered sequence)

88. The Best Start for Children, the Best Deal for Families: Proposals for Parental Leave and Universal Childcare for Under 5s

89. Equity and Excellence: Policies for 5-19 Education in England’s Schools and Colleges

90. Investing in Talent, Building the Economy: Policies for Adult and Further Education

91. Real Women

92. Thriving in a Globalised World – A Strategy for Britain: Domestic Responses to Globalisation

93. Our Natural Heritage: Policies on the Natural Environment

94. A Fresh Start for Britain: Choosing a Different, Better Future (pre-manifesto paper for the 2010 general election)

95. Are We Being Served? Policies on Accessing Goods and Services

96. Free to be Young

97. Accountability to the Poor – Policies on International Development

98. Community Futures: Policies on the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering

99. Taking Responsibility: Policies on Youth Justice

100. Facing the Future Policy Development Agenda

101. Preparing the Ground: Stimulating Growth in the Digital Economy Policies for Information Technology

102. A New Purpose for Politics: Quality of Life

103. Giving Young People a Future: Policies on Combating Youth Unemployment

104. Decent Homes for All: Policy on Housing

105. Sustainable Prosperity and Jobs

106. Mutuals, Employee Ownership and Workplace Democracy

107. Tackling Inequality at its Roots: Policies on Inequality

108. A Balanced Working: Life Policies for Low and Middle Income Households

109. Green Growth and Green Jobs: Transition to a Zero Carbon Britain

110. Learning for Life: Education and Skills from Upper Secondary to Lifelong Learning

111. Fairer Taxes: Policies for the Reform of Taxation

112. Defending the Future: UK Defence in the 21st Century

113. Prosperous Sustainable and Secure: Renewing the European Union for the 21st Century

114. A Stronger Economy in a Fairer Society, Enabling Every Person to Get On in Life (pre-pre-manifesto paper for the 2015 general election; the pre-manifesto was policy paper no.121.)

[There was no policy paper no.115. There is no exciting conspiracy story behind this.]

116. Making Migration Work for Britain: for a Stronger Economy and a Fairer Society

117. Power to the People: Policies for Political and Constitutional Reform

118. Doing What Works to Cut Crime: Crime and Criminal Justice Policy Paper

119. Protecting Public Services and Making Them Work For You: Public Services Policy Paper

120. Expanding Opportunity, Unlocking Potential: Equalities Policy Paper

121. A Stronger Economy and a Fairer Society, Enabling Every Person to Get On in Life (pre-manifesto paper for the 2015 general election)

122. Age Ready Britain – Realising the Potential of an Ageing Society: Ageing Society Policy Paper

123. Safe and Free – Liberty and Security in the UK

124. Mending the Safety Net – Working-Age Social Security

125. The Opportunity to Succeed, The Power to Change – Agenda 2020

126. A Rational Approach to Harm Reduction

127. Towards a World Free of Nuclear Weapons

128. Every Child Empowered: Education for a changing world

129. A Rural Future: Time to Act

130. Power for People and Communities

131. A Fair Deal for Everyone – Prosperity and Dignity in Migration

132. Britain at the Heart of a Changing World

133. Good Jobs, Better Businesses, Stronger Communities – Proposals for a new economy that really works for everyone

134. Demand Better – Liberal Democrat Priorities for a Better Britain

135. Eradicating Race Inequality

136. A Fairer Share for All

137. Save the NHS and Social Care by Stopping Brexit

138. United Against Crime

139. Tackling the Climate Emergency

139A. Tackling the Climate Emergency: Proposals for Carbon Pricing

140. Giving Consumers a Fairer Deal

141. Democracy and Public Debate

142. What Liberal Democrats Believe

143. A Fairer, Greener, More Caring Society

144. Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe

145. Democracy and Public Debate

146. Towards a Fairer Society (for the cancelled Autumn 2022 conference)

147. The Natural Environment (for the cancelled Autumn 2022 conference)

148. A More Caring Society (for the cancelled Autumn 2022 conference)

149. For a Fair Deal – pre-manifesto paper (for the cancelled Autumn 2022 conference)

150. Towards A Fairer Society

151. A More Caring Society

Other Lib Dem policy documents

The following items are not technically Liberal Democrat policy papers, but they are papers from the Liberal Democrats about policy – and hence their inclusion here.

A framework for a regulated market for cannabis in the UK: recommendations from an expert panel (March 2016)

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