Young Liberals (UK)

Young Liberals
PresidentLuisa Porritt
ChairpersonJaney Little
FoundedDecember 2016
Preceded byLiberal Youth (2008—2016)
Liberal Democrat Youth & Students (1990—2008)
HeadquartersTop Floor
1 Vincent Square
London.
SW1P 2PN
IdeologyLiberalism (British)
Social liberalism[1]
Internationalism[2]
Pro-Europeanism[3][4]
European affiliationEuropean Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
International affiliationInternational Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth (IFLRY)
Colours  Orange
Mother PartyLiberal Democrats
State PartyEnglish Young Liberals
Scottish Young Liberals
Welsh Young Liberals
House of Commons
1 / 650
Councillors[nb][5]
30 / 18,725
Website
www.youngliberals.uk

Young Liberals is the youth and student organisation of the British Liberal Democrats. Membership is automatic for members of the Liberal Democrats aged under 30.[6] It organises a number of fringe events at the Liberal Democrat Conference, which is held twice each year.

Young Liberals exists to campaign on issues affecting young people and students, with branches across the UK. The organisation is run by young people and acts as a pressure group within the Liberal Democrats.[citation needed]

Social liberalism, economic liberalism, social justice, internationalism and pro-Europeanism are important components of the group's political philosophy.[citation needed]

The constitution of the Liberal Democrats requires an affiliated youth and student wing.[7] Accordingly, Young Liberals is a Specified Associated Organisation (SAO) of the party. It is granted voting rights on various Liberal Democrat committees, such as the Party's Federal Board.[citation needed]

Young Liberals is affiliated to both the International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth (IFLRY) and European Liberal Youth.[8] Its predecessors include Liberal Youth, founded in 2008, and Liberal Democrat Youth & Students, founded in 1990. The earliest organisations were the National League of Young Liberals (NLYL), founded in 1903 and the Union of Liberal Students (ULS), founded in 1920.

  1. ^ The Green Book – new directions for Liberals in government, Mike Tuffrey, 5 March 2013, Liberal Democrat Voice
  2. ^ How Lib Dem members describe their political identity: ‘liberal’, ‘progressive’ and ‘social liberal’ top the bill, Stephen Tall, 30 April 2011, Liberal Democrat Voice
  3. ^ "Brexit". www.libdems.org.uk. 17 April 2018.
  4. ^ Elgot, Jessica (28 May 2017). "Tim Farron: Lib Dems' pro-European strategy will be proved right". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Open Council Data UK". Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  6. ^ "YL Membership". Young Liberals. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ^ "The Federal Constitutionof the Liberal Democrats" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  8. ^ "About Us - International". Young Liberals. Retrieved 1 October 2022.