Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats Explained

Country:Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats
Native Name:Daonlathaithe Liobrálacha Thuaisceart Éireann
Leader1 Title:Chair
Leader1 Name:Stephen Glenn
Foundation:1988
Ideology:Liberalism[1]
Social liberalism[2]
Classical liberalism[3] [4]
Pro-Europeanism[5] [6]
National:Liberal Democrats
International:Liberal International
European:Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Colours: Yellow[7]
Seats1 Title:House of Commons
(NI Seats)
Seats2 Title:House of Lords
Seats3 Title:NI Assembly
Seats4 Title:Local government
Headquarters:Belfast
Youth Wing:Young Liberals

The Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats (Irish: Daonlathaigh Liobrálacha Thuaisceart Éireann), is a local party of the Liberal Democrats that operates in Northern Ireland.[8] Unlike its counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales, the Northern Ireland party is not a state party within the federal Liberal Democrats (though there does exist constitutional provision for it to be established so by conference) but a local party similar to constituency parties in the rest of the UK.

Elections

The Liberal Democrats do not presently contest elections in Northern Ireland but there is a strong history of support to the Alliance Party.

Members

Several individuals, including former Alliance Party leader David Ford, hold membership of both the Alliance Party and the Liberal Democrats. Alliance members of the House of Lords take the Liberal Democrat whip on non-Northern Ireland issues. John Alderdice was leader of Alliance 1987–1998 and has sat as a Lib Dem peer since 1996.

Alliance Party MP Naomi Long (2010–2015) did not take the Liberal Democrat Whip in the House of Commons as she is not a Liberal Democrat member.[9]

As of 23 January 2016, the Chair of the Northern Ireland local party is Stephen Glenn. The previous chair was John O’Neill.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: United Kingdom. Parties and Elections in Europe. Wolfram. Nordsieck. 2017. 3 May 2018.
  2. Book: Hans Slomp. Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics [2 volumes]: An American Companion to European Politics. 2011. ABC-CLIO. 978-0-313-39182-8. 343.
  3. Book: Alistair Clark. Political Parties in the UK. 2012. Palgrave Macmillan. 978-0-230-36868-2. 86–93.
  4. Book: Andrew Heywood. Essentials of UK Politics. 2011. Palgrave Macmillan. 978-0-230-34619-2. 126–128.
  5. Web site: Brexit. 17 April 2018. Liberal Democrats.
  6. Web site: Tim Farron: Lib Dems' pro-European strategy will be proved right. Jessica. Elgot. 28 May 2017. The Guardian.
  7. Web site: Style guide. Liberal Democrats.
  8. Web site: insult to injury. September 27, 2010.
  9. Web site: No, I do not regret receiving the...: 9 Dec 2010: House of Commons debates. TheyWorkForYou.