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The Liberal Democrat Party’s position on the United Nations

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The Liberal Democrat Party’s position on the United Nations

UNA-UK has written to UK political parties asking them for a clear statement outlining their vision for the UK's relationship with the United Nations. The responses are reproduced on our website in the order they were received. They represent the most comprehensive and, in some cases, the first UN-focussed party statements.

This work is part of UNA-UK's year-long campaign to promote informed debate on foreign policy, in particular, Britain's role at the UN, ahead of the general election on 7 May. While these matters are now - very belatedly - starting to be debated, these conversations are happening in reaction to events, a hallmark of successive UK governments' foreign policy.

UNA-UK is deeply concerned that British policy-makers have consistently underestimated the need to invigorate and develop the UN, which is essential to solving many of the serious challenges facing the UK and the world. If you agree, join us in calling for an active and progressive UK foreign policy

The Liberal Democrat Party’s position on the UK and the United Nations

We support the work of the UNA-UK in helping to promote the work of the United Nations and encouraging public debate. We believe in tackling international issues holistically as we think this the most effective way to achieve real change and to promote issues at home. For example Liberal Democrat Ministers have led the way in tackling Female Genital Mutilation both abroad and in the UK. Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey has been tackling global climate change at home by doubling the amount of electricity from renewable sources and internationally by securing an ambitious European Climate Change deal.

Liberal Democrats support administrative and efficiency reform at the UN. We also want to see reform of the UN Security Council and its membership. We should now look at including a seat for India, Japan, Germany, Brazil and an African nation. Liberal Democrats would also support reform of the way the Secretary General is selected so that it is more transparent and democratic. We would very much welcome a female Secretary General.

Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring that Britain plays a central role at the UN and steps up to its duties as a permanent member of the Security Council. We believe that Britain has a responsibility to make a contribution to global security and conflict prevention. We want to use all aspects of government policy to focus UK policy on conflict prevention and we will ensure this is a priority within the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Liberal Democrats want to engage with and strengthen multilateral UN institutions worldwide. We will ensure the UN principle of Responsibility to Protect is at the heart of our foreign policy. This principle focuses on the security of individuals, rather than states.

Click here to read the question as it was posed to parties

Click here to read the other parties' responses

NB. party responses have been publised in the order they were received