Many of you will be conscious of the fact that we have been occasionally losing Lib Dem members to the Green Party with an explanation that the Green Party `values` more closely represent their views. We also occasionally suffer from media commentators suggesting they are not clear what Liberal Democrats "stand for" - most recently the Conservative Lord Finkelstein in the weekend papers!
Both of these occurrences are very frustrating for those of us who KNOW clearly what we stand for. However, we Green Liberal Democrats and others believe it would be helpful to restate our beliefs and values more clearly by a couple of relatively minor (but significant) adjustments to the Preamble to our Liberal Democrat Constitution.
The key sentence which speaks to our environment IS there in the Preamble (I know because I put it there in 1988!) but we believe it needs "promoting" from the second sentence of the second paragraph to become the second sentence of the FIRST paragraph of the Preamble.
We believe that 2021 will become an important pivotal year for Global politics with COP26 occurring in Glasgow in November. Let us recognise that by boosting our statement of VALUES to make our position as clear as possible. This is what this motion is all about.
Keith Melton - Chair Green Liberal Democrats
The Motion is as follows:
Conference recognises the occurrence, from time to time, of public and media questioning as to the `values` represented by the Liberal Democrats. Whilst these are spelled out in some detail in the Preamble to the Constitution of the Party, we believe that, as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic to face the twin existential threats of Climate Change and Loss of Biodiversity, this would be a good time to review the Preamble and restate our priorities with greater clarity. The key value statement relating to the environment currently languishes as the second sentence of the second paragraph of the Preamble and is known to be overlooked by commentators on Liberal Democrat values.
Conference believes that our Party`s longevity of support for the primacy of the environment should be strengthened and clarified by the `promotion` of that sentence to become the second sentence of the FIRST paragraph of the Preamble.
Conference moves that the first paragraph of the Preamble would then read as follows:-
“The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which
we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which
no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We believe that each
generation is responsible for the fate of our planet and, by safeguarding the balance of
nature and the environment, for the long-term continuity of life in all its forms.”
The Preamble would then follow as previously written with the exception of a minor but significant change reinforcing the necessary updating of our consequent approach to global sustainable economic development needed to ensure our environmental concern is made manifest with respect to the paradigm of “Wellbeing”, rather than adhering to the outdated focus on GDP as an economic
measure of success.
Conference therefore further moves that the first sentence of the existing third paragraph is
changed and expanded from this:-
“We will foster a strong and sustainable economy which encourages the necessary wealth
creating processes, develops and uses the skills of the people and works to the benefit of all, with a just distribution of the rewards of success.”
…to become the following new sentences:-
“We will foster a strong and sustainable economy which enables people to thrive in their
communities, measuring progress in achievement by the development of wellbeing in the
populations. Such an economy will encourage necessary wealth creating processes, develop and use the skills of the people and works to the benefit of all, with a just distribution of the rewards of success.”
The deadline for signing this motion is 5pm on the 29th of June in order to allow us to submit the motion by the deadline. Thank you for signing
This conference will be a pivotal conference for all issues Green and Wellbeing with the carbon pricing and UBI working groups both reporting to this conference, so we would really like to keep in touch with you as a signatory if you aren't already a member (you can join here:
https://greenlibdems.org.uk/en/page/join-now)