Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats
Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair | Stephen Glenn |
| Headquarters | Belfast |
| Youth wing | Liberal Youth Northern Ireland |
| Ideology |
Liberalism Social liberalism Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre |
| Colours | Yellow |
The Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats is a local party of the Liberal Democrats that operates in Northern Ireland.[1] 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.
Elections
The Liberal Democrats do not presently contest elections in Northern Ireland but there is a strong history of support to the Alliance Party, which some people mistake for the two being the same entity.
Members
Several individuals, including former Alliance Party leader David Ford, hold membership of both parties. Alliance members of the House of Lords take the Lib Dem whip on non-Northern Ireland issues. Former Alliance Party MP Naomi Long did not take the Liberal Democrat Whip in the House of Commons between 2010 and 2015 as she is not a Liberal Democrat member,[2] and sat on the opposition benches.
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
- Liberal Democrats
- English Liberal Democrats
- Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Welsh Liberal Democrats
- Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
References
External links
- Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats - official blog
- Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats - official Facebook group
- Liberal Youth Northern Ireland - Facebook group