Libertarian Party (UK)
Encyclopedia
The Libertarian Party, also known as the Libertarian Party UK (or LPUK), is a libertarian political party in the United Kingdom
. The party describe themselves as "largely minarchist in scope" and it was founded on 1 January 2008 under the leadership of Patrick Vessey who registered with the Electoral Commission on 21 November 2007.
On 17 September 2008 Patrick Vessey resigned as party leader and was replaced by Ian Parker-Joseph. On 28 November 2010 Andrew Withers was elected as party leader.
Annual accounts held by the Electoral Commission, show that the party had 314 members at the end of 2008, and a net annual income of £3,395. By December 2009 the party had 500 members.
The party participated in the United Kingdom general election, 2010.
Andrew Withers is elected as independent councillor in Clevedon
, North Somerset
region.
, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire
markets and strong civil liberties
. The party's first policy is the lowering income tax and a reduction of "red tape" on businesses. Their social policies include minimum restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, the decentralization of the education system, and the introduction of a school voucher system. The party favours a withdrawal from the European Union
and reform of membership of the United Nations
for a non-interventionist
foreign policy. On healthcare, the party believes in the decentralization of the National Health Service and the "migration from State monopoly to an insurance-based system" but remain strongly committed to the long term care of the elderly and mental health services.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The party describe themselves as "largely minarchist in scope" and it was founded on 1 January 2008 under the leadership of Patrick Vessey who registered with the Electoral Commission on 21 November 2007.
On 17 September 2008 Patrick Vessey resigned as party leader and was replaced by Ian Parker-Joseph. On 28 November 2010 Andrew Withers was elected as party leader.
Annual accounts held by the Electoral Commission, show that the party had 314 members at the end of 2008, and a net annual income of £3,395. By December 2009 the party had 500 members.
The party participated in the United Kingdom general election, 2010.
Andrew Withers is elected as independent councillor in Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
, North Somerset
North Somerset
North Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare....
region.
Political views
The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianismLibertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire
Laissez-faire
In economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
markets and strong civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
. The party's first policy is the lowering income tax and a reduction of "red tape" on businesses. Their social policies include minimum restrictions on freedom of speech and expression, the decentralization of the education system, and the introduction of a school voucher system. The party favours a withdrawal from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and reform of membership of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for a non-interventionist
Non-interventionism
Nonintervention or non-interventionism is a foreign policy which holds that political rulers should avoid alliances with other nations, but still retain diplomacy, and avoid all wars not related to direct self-defense...
foreign policy. On healthcare, the party believes in the decentralization of the National Health Service and the "migration from State monopoly to an insurance-based system" but remain strongly committed to the long term care of the elderly and mental health services.
See also
- LibertarianismLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
- Classic Liberalism
- MinarchismMinarchismMinarchism has been variously defined by sources. It is a libertarian capitalist political philosophy. In the strictest sense, it maintains that the state is necessary and that its only legitimate function is the protection of individuals from aggression, theft, breach of contract, and fraud, and...
- Laissez-faireLaissez-faireIn economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
- Libertarianism in the United KingdomLibertarianism in the United KingdomLibertarianism in the United Kingdom is a political movement concerned with the pursuit of pro-property libertarian ideals in the United Kingdom. While not as prominent as libertarianism in the United States, after the 1980s and the economic liberalism of the premiership of Margaret Thatcher, the...