Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats
Encyclopedia
The Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats is a local party of the Liberal Democrats
that operates in Northern Ireland
. Unlike its counterparts in England
, Scotland
and Wales
, the Northern Ireland party is not a state party within the federal Liberal Democrats but a local party, similar to constituency parties in the rest of the UK.
but there is a strong history of support to the Alliance Party
, some people mistake this for the two being the same entity.
, hold membership of both parties. Alliance members of the House of Lords
take the Lib Dem whip
on non-Northern Ireland issues. Current Alliance Party MP Naomi Long has not taken the Liberal Democrat Whip in the House of Commons as she is not a Liberal Democrat member and sits on the opposition benches.
The current Chair of the Northern Ireland local party is Michael Carchrie Campbell, a Liberal Democrat activist from Belfast
.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
that operates in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Unlike its counterparts in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the Northern Ireland party is not a state party within the federal Liberal Democrats 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 IrelandElections in Northern Ireland
Elections in Northern Ireland are held on a regular basis to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to the European Parliament. Regular elections are also held in Northern Ireland to local councils....
but there is a strong history of support to the Alliance Party
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
, some people mistake this for the two being the same entity.
Members
Several individuals, including Alliance Party leader David FordDavid Ford
David Ford is a politician who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ford has been leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2001 and has been Northern Ireland Minister of Justice since April 2010.- Early life :...
, hold membership of both parties. Alliance members of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
take the Lib Dem whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
on non-Northern Ireland issues. Current Alliance Party MP Naomi Long has not taken the Liberal Democrat Whip in the House of Commons as she is not a Liberal Democrat member and sits on the opposition benches.
The current Chair of the Northern Ireland local party is Michael Carchrie Campbell, a Liberal Democrat activist from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Youth Wing
The Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats have their own youth branch called Liberal Youth Northern Ireland, established in 2010. The current President of Liberal Youth Northern Ireland is Stephen McFarland.See also
- Liberal DemocratsLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
- Liberal Democrats in EnglandLiberal Democrats in EnglandThe Liberal Democrats in England, informally known as the English Liberal Democrats, is the state party within the Liberal Democrats that operates in England. It is a federation of the eleven regional parties in England which are further divided into local parties...
- Scottish Liberal DemocratsScottish Liberal DemocratsThe Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
- Welsh Liberal DemocratsWelsh Liberal DemocratsThe Welsh Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties of the federal Liberal Democrats and operate within Wales, the others being the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England....
- Alliance Party of Northern IrelandAlliance Party of Northern IrelandThe Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....