F41: Empowering Liberal Democrat Values: for People and Planet

Amendment as passed by conference

Submitted by: 215 members

Mover: Keith Melton.

Summation: Cllr Pippa Heylings.

Conference recognises the occurrence, from time to time, of public and media questioning as to the values represented by the Liberal Democrats; whilst these are spelled out in some detail in the Preamble to the Constitution of the Party, conference believes that, as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic to face the twin existential threats of Climate Change and Loss of Biodiversity, this would be a good time to review the Preamble and restate our priorities with greater clarity. Conference believes the key value statement relating to the environment currently languishes as the second sentence of the second paragraph of the Preamble and is known to be overlooked by commentators on Liberal Democrat values.

Conference believes that our Party's longevity of support for the primacy of the environment should be strengthened and clarified by the promotion of that sentence to become the second sentence of the first paragraph of the Preamble.

Conference therefore resolves to move from their current position the words: 'We believe that each generation is responsible for the fate of our planet and, by safeguarding the balance of nature and the environment, for the long-term continuity of life in all its forms', and insert them after the words: 'poverty, ignorance and conformity'.

This section of the Preamble would then read as follows:

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We believe that each generation is responsible for the fate of our planet and, by safeguarding the balance of nature and the environment, for the long-term continuity of life in all its forms.

Conference also supports a further change which would reinforce the necessary updating of our approach to global sustainable economic development needed to ensure our environmental concern is made manifest with respect to the paradigm of 'Wellbeing', rather than adhering to the outdated focus on GDP as an economic measure of success.

Conference therefore further resolves to delete from the first sentence of the existing third paragraph the words: 'economy which encourages the necessary wealth creating processes, develops and uses the skills of the people and works', and insert in their place the words: 'which enables people to thrive in their communities, assessing progress by measuring people's wellbeing. Such an economy will encourage necessary wealth creating processes, develop and use the skills of the people and work'.

This section of the Preamble would then read as follows:

We will foster a strong and sustainable economy which enables people to thrive in their communities, assessing progress by measuring people’s wellbeing. Such an economy will encourage necessary wealth creating processes, develop and use the skills of the people and work to the benefit of all, with a just distribution of the rewards of success.

Applicability: Federal.