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
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
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
16. Investment, Partnership, Sustainability: Policies for the British Economy
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
28. Rape Law Reform: Policies for Reforming the Law on Rape
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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
134. Demand Better – Liberal Democrat Priorities for a Better Britain
135. Eradicating Race Inequality
137. Save the NHS and Social Care by Stopping Brexit
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)
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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