Launching Liberal Reform
Liberal Reform is a new membership group within the Liberal Democrats, committed to fostering debate and variety in the Lib Dems, promoting an all-round Liberal ideology in Lib Dem policy, including the economic liberalism that the founding members feel is lacking a voice in the grassroots of party.
35% of Lib Dem members and activists describe themselves as ‘economic liberals’, now a bigger presence in the party than those who would describe themselves as Social Democrats. Less than half of Lib Dems describe themselves as ‘centre-left’.
Voters intending to back the Liberal Democrats are now increasingly centrists, rather than the disgrunted left-wingers who we courted during Labour’s time in office. Leader Nick Clegg rightly says that “The Lib Dems never were and aren’t a receptacle for left-wing dissatisfaction with the Labour Party. There is no future for that; there never was.”
We believe in Nick Clegg’s statement at our Autumn Conference in 2011 that “we are not on the left, and we are not on the right. We have our own label: Liberal”.
Only a message of four-cornered liberalism, advocating personal, political, social and economic liberalism will distinguish us from other political parties.
We hope many members of the Lib Dems will join the organisation, and will come to our launch event at Spring Conference in Gateshead.
Very interested in the aims.
How do you plan on going about it?
Oh, hang on. Scrap the last comment.
Didn’t read the site properly.
Still not really sure where I stand within the party.
I often agree with the SLF and have joined their East Mids branch, but it’ll be interesting to see where there’s overlap and where there’s disagreement.
Will be signing up to the newletter at least.
Best of luck!
I reserve the right to withdraw my support if this is not a group as advertised.
This is good news!
Action to counterbalance the seesaw model of tired old politics is needed.
The only criticism I can level is I am not sure about the logo!
Everyone is born a Liberal; then other people decide your direction. If you survive you can become a Liberal Democrat and strive towards that birthright for all!
What do you mean by economic liberalism
If I understand correctly we now have the following organisations in the party:
Liberal Left
Left Liberal and Social Policy
Social Liberal Forum
Reform and Social Liberalism
Libertarian Left Social Group
Orange Bible Economic Liberalism Forum
Libertarian Social freedom and Justice Organisation
Equality and Liberal Social Development Policy Group
Liberal Supporters of the Centre for Um
Centre Right Liberal group
Centre of the Centre (formerly Combined Centre Left and Centre Right Liberal Caucus)
Liberal Mein Kampf and Das Kapital Caucus
Reform of Reform Centre Liberal Faction