Policy - Young Liberals

Young Liberals members don't just campaign for Lib Dem policy. We help make it.

From housing and mental health to digital rights, employment and equality, Young Liberals have helped shape policy across the party.

And you don't need to be a policy expert to get involved.

At Young Liberals Conference, our members debate ideas, change proposals and vote on what we believe. The policies we agree give Young Liberals a platform to campaign within the Liberal Democrats, and some go on to become policy for the whole party.

Come to Young Liberals Conference

Come along

View

Got an idea?

Get in touch

View

We don't just talk about policy. We make it.

Young Liberals has a long record of taking ideas from young members into the wider Liberal Democrats.

Driving

We took our plan to make driving more affordable and accessible from Young Liberal Conference to Federal Conference, and into LBC. See the policy → Read it in LBC →

Ending Period Poverty

Our campaign for free period products for everyone who needs them became Liberal Democrat policy, and made it into the 2024 manifesto. See the policy →

Defending Digital Rights

From challenging the Online Safety Act to opposing blanket social-media bans, the Young Liberals has repeatedly shaped the party's approach to digital rights. Digital Rights → Social Media →

Building the Homes Young People Need

When the party proposed dropping its national housing target in 2023, Young Liberals successfully fought to restore the commitment to 380,000 homes a year. See the amendment →

Policy Resources

It really can happen

From Young Liberals to Liberal Democrat policy

Reforming Sunday Trading Laws

An idea backed by Young Liberals was taken to Liberal Democrat Federal Conference and adopted in Autumn 2024.

That is what Young Liberals policy work is for: developing ideas within Young Liberals, building support for them and then trying to change the wider party.

Your motion could be next.

So far the Young Liberals have passed 14 motions,

6 amendments and 2 emergency motions at Liberal Democrat Federal Conference.

Policy Documents

Read the Young Liberals Policy Book

View

Read the Young Liberals Manifesto

View

From your idea into party policy

Policy doesn't start with a perfectly drafted motion.

It starts with something you think is wrong, an idea you think the party is missing or simply the question: why don't we do this differently?

1. Have an idea

Any member can get involved in creating policy.

You might write a motion yourself, propose an amendment to somebody else's idea or simply come to us with a problem you think the Young Liberals should be talking about.

You don't need to know how to write a motion before you start. You can come along to one of our training sessions hosted before conference, we can help with drafting advice when you submit a motion or you can reach out to us.

2. Bring it to Young Liberals Conference

Young Liberals Conference is where our members decide what is Young Liberals policy.

Members debate proposals and improve them through amendments and ultimately vote on whether it should be adopted as Young Liberals policy.

You can make the case for your own idea or influence somebody else's.

3. It becomes Young Liberals policy

When Conference passes a motion, it becomes a part of what Young Liberals stand for.

That can shape what we campaign for and what our representatives argue for across the Liberal Democrats.

4. We take the argument into the wider party

Young Liberals can take motions and amendments to the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference, work with other parts of the party and make the case for young people's priorities through the party's policy structures.

Young Liberals are also represented directly on the Liberal Democrats Federal Policy Committee by our Policy Officer.

That means an idea raised by a Young Liberal member can travel a very long way.