Liberal Democrats and the EU

The Liberal Democrats campaigned strongly for the UK to remain in the EU.

Soon after the referendum result, Tim Farron pledged that Liberal Democrats would fight the next General Election on a promise to reverse Brexit.

At the party conference in September 2016, we passed a resolution which commits us to a referendum on the actual terms for Brexit. This is not simply a re-run of 23 June 2016: it will give the British public a chance to express a view on whether what is actually on offer is better than remaining in the EU. As an example, people have been touting the arrangement Norway has, which involves full access to the single market, but requires them to implement all the market's rules, with no right to influence how they are made: that is very much less attractive than EU membership because it involves loss of influence.

The same resolution deplored the level of lying from the Leave campaign, but also calls for serious attention to be paid to why people voted Leave. In many cases that is an expression of genuine pain and frustration. Brexit would do real harm to many people in that situation. The answer is not to ignore them, but is to address the real concerns, over housing, the NHS and jobs - and not to falsely blame the EU (or migrants) for these.

Many core Liberal Democrat policies will help to engage with those who voted Leave out of frustration - voting reform (so everyone's votes count), devolution (so decision-making is not remote), and policies to help people trapped by "ignorance, poverty or conformity".

The Europe-wide party the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe provides an EU-wide liberal voice.

Read about the Liberal Democrat policy on Europe: http://www.libdems.org.uk/europe

and the National Consultation on Brexit: http://www.libdems.org.uk/national-consultation-brexit