What do the lib dems stand for?

The Liberal Democrats are a centrist liberal party. They stand for civil liberties, closer ties with Europe, proportional representation, action on the environment and well-funded public services, especially health and social care. They won 72 seats at the 2024 general election, their best result as a party.

The party was formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party merged with the Social Democratic Party. It sits in the political centre, mixing social liberalism with support for a market economy. Its roots go back to the nineteenth century Liberals. The party's members have a strong say in its policies through its conference. It has historically been strongest in south west England, Scotland and the suburbs.

Its recent priorities include free personal care for older and disabled people, faster access to GPs and cleaner rivers and seas. It also wants to rejoin the EU single market over time and bring in proportional representation. It also campaigns on civil liberties and opposes identity cards. On the economy it backs markets alongside strong public services. It tends to favour higher taxes on banks and large firms over rises for workers.

The party governed in coalition with the Conservatives from 2010 to 2015. Its support collapsed in 2015, partly over its broken pledge on tuition fees. It recovered strongly in 2024, winning 72 seats on about 12% of the vote, helped by tactical voting in southern England. It is now the third largest party in the Commons.

Led by Ed Davey. Platform: rejoin the EU single market and customs union and use the growth to cut income tax, free personal care, more GPs, support for carers, faster rises in defence spending and proportional representation.

Key pledges

• Raise the personal allowance to £15,000 by the fifth year, paid for by growth from closer EU trade
  The amount people can earn before paying income tax rises from £12,570 to £15,000 by the fifth year. The party says growth from closer EU trade pays for it.
• Raise the higher rate threshold to £56,000
  People would start paying the 40% income tax rate at £56,000 instead of £50,270.
• Cut fuel duty by 10p a litre until at least Christmas and cancel the planned January rise
  Fuel duty would be cut by 10p a litre until at least Christmas, and a planned January rise would be cancelled.
• Raise the digital services tax on big tech firms from 2% to 6% (2024 manifesto)
  The tax on big tech firms' UK revenue from search, social media and online marketplaces rises from 2% to 6%.
• Rejoin the EU single market and customs union, aiming for a deal within a year
  The UK would rejoin the EU single market and customs union, aiming for a deal within a year. This is close to Norway's position, plus a shared tariff.
• Rejoining the EU remains a longer-term aim (2024 manifesto)
  The party keeps full EU membership as a long-term goal, once trust and trade ties are rebuilt.
• Recruit 8,000 more GPs and give everyone the right to see a GP within seven days
  Recruit 8,000 more GPs in England and give everyone a legal right to see a GP within seven days, or 24 hours if urgent.
• Free personal care in England
  Help with washing, dressing and eating would be free for people who need it in England. Care home accommodation would still be charged.
• A higher minimum wage for care workers, £2 above the national minimum wage
  Care workers would be paid at least £2 an hour more than the minimum wage.
• Raise Carer's Allowance by £20 a week (2024 manifesto)
  Carer's Allowance, paid to people caring for someone at least 35 hours a week, rises by £20 a week.
• Build 380,000 homes a year, including 150,000 social homes
  Build 380,000 homes a year across the UK, including 150,000 social homes for rent.
• Replace first past the post with proportional representation
  Change the voting system for Westminster so seats match each party's share of the vote more closely.
• Reach 3% of GDP on defence faster, with defence bonds raising £20bn, and reverse troop cuts
  Reach 3% of national income on defence sooner, raise £20bn by selling defence bonds to the public, and reverse cuts to troop numbers.
• Replace Ofwat with a tough new regulator and turn water firms into public benefit companies
  Replace Ofwat with a tougher water regulator and turn water firms into public benefit companies, which must put the environment ahead of profit.
• 90% of UK electricity from renewables by 2030 (2024 manifesto)
  Get 90% of UK electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2030.