Young Liberals (United Kingdom)

The Young Liberals is a British Liberal organisation that exists as the youth and student wing of the Liberal Democrats. Having been formed from the merger of several youth and student wings from across the UK, it can trace it's roots back over 100 years - however the current iteration of the organisation was established in 1993 through a merger of the Student Liberal Democrats and the Young Liberal Democrats of England As set out in the Young Liberal Constitution, the Young Liberals exist on in relation to the Liberal Democrats. Making them one of the least independent major Liberal Youth groups in Europe.

Work in Progress.

The Young Liberals are a Federal Organisation.

The Young Liberals are through our predecessor organisations a founding member of both IFLRY and LYMEC, and whilst Brexit and the lack of government funding for Youth parties has proved an obstacle, we aim to actively engage with sister parties internationally. Historically the Young Liberals have very strong ties with the major Liberal youth parties of Scandinavia as well as the Jong Democraten. In more recent times, a strong bond has also been forged across the Atlantic with the Young Democrats of America. Since the creation of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, a FCDO funded Parliamentary scheme which works with political parties to run Pro-Parliamentary schemes around the world, the Young Liberals have participated in it's activities as trainers and facilitators - pushing for funding to go to youth friendly organisations and projects. However after the disastrous 2015 General Election, much of this funding run out - but with the victorious result of 2024, this arrangement has been revived. In particular the Young Liberals have a unique, and developing relationship with the Alliance Youth who exist within the United Kingdom, however they are contained solely within a territory of the country that the Liberal Democrats and Young Liberals are purposefully inactive in - instead partnering with the Alliance Party.