A Fair Deal for Reading
Reading needs a change: a change from failure, a change from complacency. Reading deserves better than its current leadership locally and nationally - and the Liberal Democrats are demanding a fair deal for Reading.
Liberal Democrats offer that change through our commitment to the environment, to the freedoms and duties that strengthen our society, to getting a better deal on public services, cutting crime, and radical policies to return power to local communities.
We offer a positive agenda – but it is change that we want to see, to match our ambition for the area.
Liberals and Liberal Democrats have been working hard for Reading and winning elections here since the 1850s, including in Tilehurst, which has been represented by Liberals and Liberal Democrats continuously since the days of Jim and Paddy Day in the 1960s, right up to now.
Our Values
The Liberal Democrats stand firm on seven core values: liberty, equality, democracy, community, human rights, internationalism, and environmentalism. Each of these underpin the party's specific policy proposals.
As Liberal Democrats, we believe that power should be dispersed into communities, rather than concentrated anywhere. We believe that communities and individuals should have the power and resources to make the best of themselves and society as a whole. Safeguarding the environment, and safeguarding and expanding our hard-won civic rights and freedoms (particularly for disadvantaged groups), are at the heart of what we believe.
We allow evidence to lead us and our beliefs to guide us: Liberal Democrats are often more willing to work with others to achieve our aims; if someone has a good idea, we will listen, and we will approach issues and decisions on their merits.
The Liberal Democrats rely on small donations from our hundreds of thousands of supporters across the country - we aren't bankrolled by big buisiness, shady elites, or trades unions. Our only vested interest is in the community we serve - and in our case, that's Reading. We live here, we love our town, we want to see it, its people and its communities thrive - and we think our approach is the best way to make that happen.
That's why we do what we do.
If you want to find out more about what Lib Dems believe, the Preamble to the Federal Constitution is the best expression of our values; if you want to find out how we'd put those values into practice in Reading, have a look at our most recent manifesto; or go here if you'd like to see how we'd do that nationally. If you'd like to know how we run our local party, you can find out about our people and read our own local constitution below too.
And if you like what you see - why not join us?
Remember: Conservatives want to concentrate power in the elite and do things to you;
Labour want to concentrate power in the state and do things for you;
but Liberal Democrats want to give power back to the people and do things along with you.
