Report on Belarus Forum
LIBG's joint forum on Belarus with Liberal Youth on 6 February looked at how proponents of democracy and human rights can seek to engage with Europe's last dictatorship.
LIBG is affiliated to Liberal International - the global federation of liberal parties. Its aims are to keep liberal values - human rights, social justice, democracy and rule of law - alive in the face of adversity. Working with like-minded parties across the globe, we want to keep Britain's pro-European, internationalist voice audible loud and clear across the globe.
LIBG holds regular events and produces a regular journal for members InterLib.
Please explore our website pages for more information.
Trump, Harris and the Future of Transatlantic Relations
LIBG held a well-attended meeting on the first day of Liberal Democrat conference, discussing the future of NATO, Ukraine and American foreign policy. With an audience of over 130 people, LIBG was heartened by the show of interest in this crucial area of policy.
Mark Bergman, from the Democratic Party in Washington DC, refused to forecast the November 5th result. However, he left the meeting in no doubt that a Trump victory would have catastrophic consequences for Ukraine. He said that while Trump wants to withdraw the US from NATO, not all of his advisors shared this view, and that there was a chance that wiser heads might prevail. Phil Gordon, Kamala Harris’s likely national security advisor, has a track record suggesting not so much intervention (he was against the Iraq invasion and the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan), but of fighting to uphold the liberal, democratic values of partner nations. Rather than isolationism or America first, a Harris administration would see America as one among partners, working collaboratively.
Yevheniia Kravchuk, deputy chair of Ukraine’s ruling Servant of the People party, spoke movingly about the existential fight facing her nation. The meeting was also an opportunity for members to listen to the new MP for South Devon, Caroline Voaden. It was chaired by LIBG chair Irina von Wiese.
The general discussion on Ukraine included concerns that Putin would not stop short of crushing and erasing Ukrainian identity if he is allowed to occupy the country. If the international community loses the will to support Ukraine, the result will be a repressive occupation in which thousands are imprisoned, tortured and killed.
When discussing the likelihood that Putin might respond to the use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian soil, there was a view that a massive cyber attack on the UK could be more likely. This is concerning as the British public is in no way prepared for such an attack, and the UK government should be educating people to understand the scale of disruption that is possible, should the Kremlin decide to unleash its cyber capabilities.
More details will be included in the next edition of InterLib.
Many thanks to Rebecca Tinsley for organising this event.
LIBG's joint forum on Belarus with Liberal Youth on 6 February looked at how proponents of democracy and human rights can seek to engage with Europe's last dictatorship.
UK Liberal Democrats welcome new Gibraltar government
As a recent recruit to Liberal International British Group, this was the first Liberal International Executive Meeting that I have had the pleasure to attend.
LIBG Chairman's Annual Report 2011
Executive committee of Liberal International British Group 2011-12, elected at the annual general meeting 25/7/11.
Speech by HE the Polish Ambassador, Barbara Tuge-Erecinska, at the LIBG, meeting on Ambitions for the Polish EU Presidency, held at the Polish Embassy in conjunction with the Liberal Democrat Friends of Poland 25/7/11.