Liberal Democrat–Green Party alliance explained

Liberal Democrat–Green Party alliance
Country:the United Kingdom
Blank1 Title:Affiliated parties
Leader1 Title:Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Leader1 Name:Ed Davey
Leader2 Title:Leader of the Green Party
Leader2 Name:Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (co-leaders)
Position:Centre-left to left-wing
Colours: Yellow and Green
Colorcode:
  1. B8B623

In the politics of England, a Liberal Democrat–Green Party alliance is an ad-hoc arrangement between candidates and elected representatives from the Liberal Democrats and Green Party to form a joint group on elected bodies or to field joint lists or candidates in elections.

Instances

Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council

For the 2018 local elections, Liberal Democrats and Green candidates in Richmond upon Thames formed an arrangement where the two parties would field joint lists of two Liberal Democrats and one Green in some three member wards.[1] This was repeated in the 2022 elections.[2]

General elections 2017 and 2019

In the 2017 general election,[3] the Liberal Democrats and Green Party refrained from standing candidates against each other for certain constituencies in Brighton[4] and Oxford.[5] Such informal arrangements ensured the successful re-election of the only Green MP Caroline Lucas for Brighton Pavilion and resulted in the Liberal Democrats regaining Oxford West and Abingdon as Layla Moran was elected there.

During the 2019 general election, this was extended to more constituencies, as part of the Unite to Remain campaign in order to boost each other's chances of winning those seats.[6] [7]

Oxfordshire County Council

Liberal Democrat and Green councilors elected to Oxfordshire County Council following the local elections in May 2021, formed a joint group prior to negotiations to form a coalition administration also including the Labour Party.[8] These councillors sit in a grouping formally known as the Liberal Democrat Green Alliance.[9] The leader of this group, and of the council, is Liz Leffman.[10]

Wealden District Council

Following the 2023 local elections, Wealden District Council came under no overall control with the Liberal Democrats holding 13 seats and the Green Party holding 11. The two agreed to form a co-operative alliance in which the position of council leader will rotate between the leaders of both party groups on an annual basis.[11] [12]

Official party policies

Liberal Democrat policy

The Liberal Democrats are officially opposed to alliances, with senior party figures preferring a non-aggression pact with Labour over unilaterally standing down.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Progressive Alliance strikes again in Richmond upon Thames. Remco . van der Stoep . May 4, 2018 . Compass.
  2. Web site: Mortimer . Josiah . Lib Dems and Greens 'teamed up' to block the Tories in a leafy London borough . MyLondon . en . 10 May 2022.
  3. Web site: 2017-06-12 . The Greens Didn't Only Win In Brighton, They Also Share A Victory In Oxfordshire . 2022-05-24 . HuffPost UK . en. Ian. Middleton.
  4. News: 2017-04-27 . Brighton Lib Dems and Greens in party alliance . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-05-24.
  5. News: 2017-05-06 . Greens make way for Lib Dems in Oxford West . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-05-24.
  6. Web site: Lib Dems will not field a candidate in Bristol West. Tristan. Cork. Alexandra. Rogers. 7 November 2019. BristolLive.
  7. Web site: 8 November 2019 . Election pact sees Greens stand aside for Lib Dem's Layla Moran . 2022-05-24 . Oxford Mail . en. David. Lynch .
  8. Web site: Lib Dems, Greens and Labour to govern Oxfordshire in coalition . . 18 May 2021.
  9. Web site: Your Councillors . Oxfordshire County Council . 1 June 2021 .
  10. Web site: Councillor details - Councillor Liz Leffman . Oxfordshire County Council . 1 June 2021 .
  11. https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/lib-dems-and-greens-form-co-operative-alliance-to-run-wealden-district-council-4145239
  12. Web site: Wealden to be run by Green and Lib dem alliance after Tory election defeat . 17 May 2023 .
  13. Web site: Senior Lib dem and Labour Reject "Progressive Alliance" to Beat Tories. 18 June 2021.