CSLD | The National Liberal Democrats | The Commitee

The Cambridge Student Liberal Democrats
Updated July 2008

Cambridge Student Liberal Democrats exist to promote the values of the Liberal Democrats, who in turn exist, as outlined in the preamble to the federal constitution, ‘to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.’

In essence, ours is the cause of championing diversity, internationalism, environmental protection, respect for individual liberty and privacy, the dispersal of power down to individuals and communities, demanding individual responsibility and refusing to stand aside when injustice is perpetrated, a belief in competition and a free market in which the government intervenes where the market fails to provide the basic tools for personal empowerment. As Herbert Samuel stated “Liberalism stands for Liberty - its very name declares it. But liberty is not to be won merely by standing aside: poverty fetters, ignorance hampers, disease incapacitates, privilege oppresses, war terrorises. To attack these is to be the champion of freedom”.

With these aims in mind, we work to elect Liberal Democrat representatives for Cambridge at every level. Cambridge now has a Liberal Democrat council, casts the largest number of its votes in European elections for the Liberal Democrats, and is represented in Parliament by a Liberal Democrat MP, David Howarth.

However, as Jo Grimond declared “Liberal democracy is more than the casting of a vote”. It is the acceptance and practice of Liberal principles; for without an informed understanding, the practice of these principles will always be precarious, and without the practice, Liberal Democracy itself dies. “It is more than the success of certain political practices and institutions”.

As such, we aim to promote a Liberal discourse amongst Cambridge students, and by doing so raising the standard of debate at the university. We hope to enrich the political debate in Cambridge and the country at large by promoting and encouraging the acceptance and practice of Liberal principles.

The National Liberal Democrats
Updated September 2007

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives.

Read more, on the Federal Party Web Page.