Young Liberals (UK)

Last updated

Young Liberals
President Luisa Porritt
Chairperson Harvey Jones
FoundedDecember 2016
Preceded byLiberal Youth (2008—2016)
Liberal Democrat Youth & Students (1990—2008)
HeadquartersTop Floor
1 Vincent Square
London.
SW1P 2PN
Ideology Liberalism (British)
Social liberalism [1]
Internationalism [2]
Pro-Europeanism [3] [4]
European affiliation European Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
International affiliation International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth (IFLRY)
Colours  Orange
Mother Party Liberal Democrats
State Party English Young Liberals
Scottish Young Liberals
Welsh Young Liberals
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. [5] It organises a number of Fringe events at the Liberal Democrat Conference, which is held twice each year.

Contents

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. [6] 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. [7] 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.

Organisation and structure

Federal organisation

The Young Liberals are a Federal organisation composed of three equal components: [8] [9]

This mirrors the Liberal Democrats own Federal Model, with each British nation possessing a corresponding 'State Party'. [8] [9]

Executive

The Executive is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Young Liberals, ensuring the organisation's operations are compliant with its own and the Liberal Democrats constitution, ensuring that the organisation is compliant with all relevant laws, and maintaining affiliations, branch accreditation and electing representatives to outside bodies which the Young Liberals are given representation on. [9]

Members of the Executive also have their own portfolios, which each officer being responsible for a certain area of the organisations operations. Members of the Executive, barring the LDCRE representative, are elected annually by the general membership. If a vacancy arises during the term of the Executive, it is filled either through a co-option process or a by-election. [9]

RoleName [10]
ChairHarvey Jones
SecretaryOliver Jones-Lyon
Fundraising OfficerCallum James Littlemore
Communications OfficerSarah Anderson
Elections OfficerAlex Gallagher
Membership Development OfficerWill Tennison
Branch Development OfficerChang Liu
Events OfficerLucas North
Policy OfficerUlysse Abbate
International OfficerTom Jordan and Rowan Fitton [n 1]
Accessibility, Diversity and Standards OfficerRebecca Jones and Bex Foulsham [n 1]
Racial Equity, Diversity and Liberation Officer (REDL)Timi Jibogou
Non-Portfolio OfficerHarvey Thomas-Benton
English Young Liberals ChairJosh Lucas Mitte
Welsh Young Liberals ChairSam Wilson
Scottish Young Liberals ChairLeo Dempster
LDCRE Representative (non-voting)Vacant

Honorary roles

There is an Honorary President and six Honorary Vice-Presidents of the organisation, who are elected by the membership to work alongside the executive to support the organisation, advise and often act as a form of institutional memory as well as give the Executive guidance and to act as spokespeople within the wider party.

RoleName [11]
Honorary President Luisa Porritt
Honorary Vice-PresidentEleanor Kelly
Cheney Payne
Julius Parker
Nathan Hunt
Sean Bennett
Arthur Wu

Committees

In addition to the Executive, there are seven committees that are responsible for the administration, direction and implementation of policy and strategy corresponding to their area. These committees have a membership consisting of the relevant Federal Officers, representatives of the three states, and directly elected members who are elected alongside the Federal Executive every year. [9] The State representatives are also elected by the memberships of the state organisations - English Young Liberals, Scottish Young Liberals and Welsh Young Liberals. [12] [13]

The current committees are Finance and Resources Committee, Elections Committee, Communications and Campaigns Committee, Events Committee, Policy Committee, International Committee, and Diversity Committee. [9] [13]

Branches

Young Liberals Branches are organised under regions and nations. They are small scale local groups often centering on a particular university, or local Liberal Democrat Party. [14] Branches provide an opportunity for Young Liberals to socialise, network and campaign on a local level. [14] There are over 30 active Branches across Great Britain including the Cambridge University Liberal Association and Oxford Students Liberal Association [14]

History

The Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) each had their own separate student and youth wings, including the Young Liberals and the Young Social Democrats. In 1988, the Liberal Party and the SDP merged to form the Liberal Democrats.

Within England, the National League of Young Liberals merged with the Young Social Democrats to form Young Liberal Democrats of England. Additionally the Union of Liberal Students merged with the Students for Social Democracy to form the Student Liberal Democrats. Within Scotland, a separate organ was formed from the Scottish Liberal Students, the Scottish Young Liberal Democrats, which also included students of all ages.

Liberal Democrat Youth and Students (LDYS) was created in 1993 from the merger of the Student Liberal Democrats and the Young Liberal Democrats of England who had shared many resources in the run-up. The merger talks were overseen by a committee which included Sarah Gurling. LDYS reorganised into a federal structure in 2000 and then admitted Scottish Young Liberal Democrats as its Scottish federal unit in 2002—forming a single Britain-wide organisation for the first time since the combined ULS-NLYL committees of the 1970s.

Spring 2008 saw LDYS renamed as Liberal Youth, at an event hosted by the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg. [15] It was then later renamed The Young Liberals in 2016, the organisation has established a 'Liberal Youth Tax' where it asks older members who mistakenly refer to YL as the Liberal Youth to donate to the organisation [16]

Alumni of the Young Liberals include Former Prime Minister Liz Truss, [17] former MP and leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson [18] and current MP Sarah Green [19]

Conferences

The federal Conference is the sovereign body of the Young Liberals and has power to determine policy and direction. The federal Young Liberals usually hosts two conferences a year, a conference in the Winter and a training weekend known as 'Activate' in the Summer, which also acts as the constitutionally mandated Annual General Meeting. At conferences policy motions which shape YL policy and amendments to the organisations constitution are debated, alongside training and speaker sessions.[ citation needed ]

In addition, during each conference there is an Executive Scrutiny session, whereby members of the executive submit reports to conference on their activities and actions in their job. After each report motions on officers are debated, wherein any member can submit a Motion of commendation, Motion of censure or Motion of no confidence in an officer. Motions of commendation and censure are non-binding opinions of conference passed by a simple majority, expressing either positive or negative opinion on the actions of an officer. Motions of no confidence are binding motions which if passed have the effect of removing an officer from their position and require a two thirds majority in order to pass.[ citation needed ]

All Conferences following Manchester 2021, the first in person conference following the COVID-19 pandemic, are held as hybrid conferences. Hybrid conferences allow members to join in debates via Confera, an in-house developed and bespoke software package (and mobile app) which allows hybrid participation and voting in democratic events.[ citation needed ]

Conference locations

YearSummer Conference/Activate Venue[ citation needed ]Winter Conference Venue[ citation needed ]Notes
2003 Flag of England.svg Cambridge University, Cambridge
2004 Flag of England.svg Orpington Flag of England.svg University of Bristol, Bristol
2005 Flag of England.svg University of Leeds, Leeds Flag of England.svg University of Lincoln, Lincoln
2010 Flag of England.svg University of Manchester, Manchester Flag of England.svg University of York, York
2011'None' Flag of England.svg University of Essex Essex conference called "Autumn Conference" no Activate held
2012 Flag of England.svg Adversane, Billingshurst Flag of England.svg Manchester
2013 Flag of England.svg Watchfield, Oxfordshire Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff
2014 Flag of England.svg Cambridge None
Winter Conference VenueSummer Conference Venue
2015 Flag of England.svg Leeds Flag of England.svg Birmingham From 2015 Winter Conference was held at the start of the year instead of the end
2016 Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Flag of England.svg Bristol
2017 Flag of England.svg Sheffield Flag of England.svg Nottingham
2018 Flag of England.svg Oxford Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea
2019 Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Flag of England.svg London
2020NoneOnlineSummer Conference was due to be held in Birmingham, but was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021Online Flag of England.svg Manchester Winter Conference was due to be held in-person but was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Summer Conference first conference to be a hybrid conference and allow attendance online and in person. All subsequent conferences have been hybrid.
2022 Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Flag of England.svg Birmingham
2023 Flag of England.svg Reading Flag of England.svg Gateshead
2024 Flag of England.svg Sheffield Flag of England.svg London

Special Conferences

In addition to the two ordinary Conferences, the Young Liberals may also hold additional "Special Conferences". The Special Conferences require a requisition submitted to the Young Liberals Federal Executive signed by 40 full members, including at least 4 members of each State Organisation. The Special Conferences debates business specified in the requisition, although additional business may be taken at the discretion of the Executive.[ citation needed ]

The threshold of a Special Conference used to be significantly higher, standing at 200 members, however with the success of Online Conferences it was lowered as they could be held online with ease.[ citation needed ]

YearSpecial Conference VenuePurposeNotes
2022Online"Young Liberals Endorsements for Party President"Formally endorsed Mark Pack for President of the Liberal Democrats in Liberal Democrat Internal Elections.

List of chairs

OrganisationNameTerm in OfficeNotes
Young LiberalsJaney Little2022–present
Fergus Ustianowski2022Co-Chairs
Janey Little
Eleanor Kelly2021–2022
Tara Copeland2021Co-Chairs
Callum Robertson
Matt Craven2021Acting Chair
Callum Robertson2020 - 2021Co-Chairs
Jack Worrall
Tara Copeland2019 - 2020
Callum James Littlemore2018 - 2019Co-Chairs
Dan Schmeising
Finn Conway2018 [note 1] Elected on 27 July following resignation of previous chair.
Thomas Gravatt2018 [note 2] Acting Chair
Thomas Gravatt2017 - 2018Co-Chairs [20] until their resignation in 2018
Hannah-Anne Ashworth
Charlie Kingsbury2016 - 2017
Liberal YouthMichael Chappell2015 - 2016Co-Chairs
Charlie Kingsbury
Alex Harding2014 - 2015
Sarah Harding2013 - 2014
Sam Fisk2013Chair; Elected following Tom Wood's resignation.
Kavya Kaushik
Tom Wood2011 - 2013Resigned part way through second term
Martin Shapland2010 - 2011
Elaine Bagshaw2008 - 2010Resigned part way through second term
Liberal Democrat
Youth and Students		Mark Gettleson2006 - 2008
Gez Smith2005 - 2006
Chris Lomax2004 - 2005
Brian Robson2003 - 2004
Alison Goldsworthy2002 - 2003
Miranda Piercy2000 - 2002
Geoff Payne1999–2000
Polly Martin1998–1999
Hywel Morgan1997–1998
Ruth Berry1996–1997
Tim Prater1995–1996
Phil Jones1995
Alex Wilcock1994–1995
Kiron Reid1993–1994

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Chair from 27 July to 31 October
  2. ↑ Acting Chair from 12 May to 27 July

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References

  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. ↑ "YL Membership". Young Liberals. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Federal Constitution of the Liberal Democrats" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "About Us - International". Young Liberals. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  8. 1 2 "States - Young Liberals". www.youngliberals.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Constitional Documents - Young Liberals". www.youngliberals.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Executive". Young Liberals. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Honorary Officers". Young Liberals. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Federal Constitution – Liberal Youth" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Committees - Young Liberals". www.youngliberals.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 "Branches and Societies - Young Liberals". www.youngliberals.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Nick Clegg launches Liberal Youth" (Press release). Liberal Democrat Voice. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Liberal Youth Tax". Young Liberals UK. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  17. ↑ "Liz Truss:from teenage Lib Dem to darling of the Tory right". The Times. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Jo Swinson interview:part 1" (Interview). Liberal Democrat Voice. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  19. ↑ "On This Day:Happy birthday to Sarah Green MP". Liberal History Group. 25 April 1982. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  20. ↑ "Meet the Executive". Young Liberals. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
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