Archive Press Releases/News

Liberal Party Pre-Budget Statement Autumn 2026

With just under a month to go until the Budget, The Liberal Party anticipates a budget that will unfortunately resort to tax hikes in order to paper over, an ever-bleak economic picture. The party believes this will inevitably have a detrimental impact on long term growth.

The Liberal Party would rather see a wholesale root and branch reform of the economic system of the UK, beginning by simplifying the Tax system, for example merging National Insurance with Income Tax. Moreover, by amending the tax system, the party believes that it will allow for organic growth in the economy by encouraging investment.

Furthermore, The Liberal Party welcomes the news that Capital Gains Tax are said to be increased in line with Income Tax; however, the party would add a caveat that it should also allow for inflationary gains, to prevent damaging the prospects of entrepreneurs.

The party would also like to see the personal tax threshold increased to 15K, thus taking at least five million out of paying income tax and thus stimulating growth by increasing demand in the economy. This would encourage more people back into work including part time, by making work pay.

Finally, the party would like to see the freeing up to 1.2 million small businesses from paying corporation tax (over 80% of companies) by lifting the minimum threshold to £100,000. Subsequently, small businesses would pay 15% corporation tax rate, rather than 25%.

RIP Cllr Paul Holmes Redruth, 04/04/1944 – 21/08/2026

The Liberal Party was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Cllr Paul Holmes, leader of the Cornish Liberals.

A long serving county and later parish councillor, Paul had been a lifelong supporter of the Cornish language and advocate for the reform of the governance of the Cornish peninsular.

Liberal members travelled to Cornwall in June 2023 for a specially commissioned Cornish and West of England Regional Assembly where we were generously entertained at a local community centre.

Our thoughts remain with his family at this time, and an appreciation of him can be seen here:

https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/holmes/5315529

The Liberal Party NEC

Liberal Party NEC Emergency Statement – Rising Political Tensions in Europe

The Liberal Party is acutely aware of the rise in tensions in Europe in the face of a sustained campaign of blatant acts of sabotage and hybrid warfare driven by Russia.

This campaign has already passed the threshold that in less enlightened ages would have escalated to armed conflict as happened in August 1914 and September 1939 with the deplorable loss of life this entailed.

Whilst we welcome this weekend peace discussion in Moscow and Kyiv, the US Presidents at best ambiguous stance on peace in Ukraine, and his admiration for authoritarian leaders, such as in Russia has embolden the current hostile environment.

We believe that all parties must now work towards a permanent ceasefire and stability in eastern Ukraine and Russia, supported by international organisations such as the UN and the EU.

Liberal Party NEC Statement – US Trade Sanctions on Canada

The Liberal Party welcomes the Candian Government’s robust response to the imposition of trade tariffs by the US Government.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has shown considerable patience when dealing with an increasingly irrational and spiteful US President who sees almost all aspects of international diplomacy and trade in transactional terms favourable to the US only.

We believe that the international community should come together to promote free trade.

Global surpluses of goods and services can be redirected between trading nations to reduce their dependency on the US and to ensure frictionless trade.

Having alienated the rest of the free trading world, the US will be faced with the reality of having to find trading partners inclined to deal with its confrontational and ungrateful temperament and the reality of the limited availability of commodities.

Liberal Party NEC Statement – Summer 2026 Heatwaves

The Liberal Party remains concerned at the continued cycle of heatwaves this summer, and the widespread enforcement of drought orders across the UK.

We believe that to ensure security of supply the government and water regulator should be working to securing water supplies in the face of lengthening periods without meaningful rainfall.

There is an urgent need to increase reservoir capacity, with no new reservoirs commissioned since 1992 whilst housing developments continue to be approved without first securing adequate water and drainage provision.

The provision of sufficient reservoirs capacity ensures underground water sources are not over extracted, reducing domestic reserves and causing unnecessary damage to the countryside and wildlife.

The Liberal Party remains committed to bringing the water industry back into public ownership to ensure money is invested in the UK and not paid to foreign owners and investors.

Liverpool Liberal Party Statement – Houses of Multiple Occupation(HMO)

Liberal Party councillors Steve Radford, William Lake and Joe Dunne have been actively pursuing cases of unregistered Houses of Multiple Occupation(HMO) as well as unlicensed children’s homes in their Liverpool wards.

In the last 4 years Liverpool has seen a 240% increase in the creation of such properties, and the city planning department has struggled to regulate and properly license these.

Whilst HMO may be suitable for students or those looking for short term lets, they are not suitable for long-term occupation, and there proliferation changes the character of local communities.

Cllr Steve Radford, Leader of the Liberal Party stated:

“Tuebrook suffers from an increasing shortage of affordable homes. Local families have little chance staying local as only 11% of the housing stock is owned managed by Registered Social Landlords. At the same time companies are moving in to buy up previously private homes and turning them into profitable HMO’s.”

The Liberal Party Assembly Saturday 10th October 2026 at the Royal Clifton Hotel, Southport.

The annual Liberal Party Assembly will be held on Saturday the 10th October at the Royal Clifton Hotel, Promenade, Southport, PR8 1RB, between 9am and 4:30pm.

https://www.britanniahotels.com/hotels/royal-clifton-hotel

Travel options for the venue are available via https://www.traveline.info/

Assembly is where party policy is debated and agreed and is open to all members and observers.

For those unable to attend in person there will be a timetabled Zoom video conference link available, but for the best experience we would like to encourage personal attendance. We extend a warm welcome and will be pleased to see you.

We are as ever keen to have more input from women members to ensure we are covering all policy areas in a balanced and fair manner.

We are now open for the submission of motions for debate, please e-mail these to the Secretary to the NEC, stephen.grahamg5@gmail.com.

The Liberal Voice! Podcast July 2026 with Stephen Graham, Secretary to the NEC

This recording was made in July 2026 and feature Stephen Graham who is Secretary to the Liberal Party NEC as well as election Nominating officer.

The show is designed to encourage debate, dialogue and discussion most notably on the topic of Liberalism and is hosted by Kayed Al-Haddad.

https://youtu.be/IHQaD6WWWn0

Earlier Podcasts can be accessed here

https://www.youtube.com/@theliberalpartyuk1892

Promoted by Stephen Graham on behalf of the Liberal Party, 12 Dayworth Mews, Lundy Lane, Reading, RG30 2RR.

Liberal Party NEC Statement – The 2026 Autumn Budget

The Liberal Party notes the confirmation by the Chancellor that the 2026 Autumn budget will be published on the 28th October.

The government’s pre-election pledges to adhere to stringent fiscal rules and its own compulsion to tax and spend has left its chancellor with limited room to fund government spending commitments proposed by the new PM.

The Liberal Party has long argued that the government should prioritise making work pay, commit to increasing the personal tax threshold in the long term to 20K (15K in the short to medium term) potentially taking five million out of the income tax, and lastly, simplifying the tax system as well proportionally increasing taxes on wealth by equalising Capital Gains Tax/Dividends Tax with Income Tax.

We also believe the government should aim to run a surplus before interest payments of 2.5% GDP and look to invest £2.5% GDP in infrastructure to support economic growth and to work towards controlling public debt now hovering just below £3 trillion pounds.

Liberal Party NEC Statement – Funding for Social Care

The Liberal Party welcomes the recent government announcements on the future of social care in the UK. In doing so it properly acknowledged the tireless efforts of those who work within the care system and the family members who support their relatives.

We are however disappointed to hear that the Labour government is entertaining funding through further taxation or a health and social care levy at a time when families budgets are already stretched by the cost of living crisis and general taxing is at a post war high.

We believe that sufficient funding can be provided for social care by the consolidation of existing budgets across the various strands of social care provision.

Indeed the failure of successive governments to get to grip with the cost of living crisis is a major driving force behind people’s unwillingness to plan for their future care provision and retirement.