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Go toA Fair, Free and Open Reading
Reading Liberal Democrats believe in a fair, free and open society — one where every resident has a genuine voice, real opportunities, and a community worth belonging to. We're your champions on the Council — not the Council's representatives to you.
We're activists and elected members who are visible in your community all year-round, fighting for the things that matter to your neighbourhood.
We're not a party of promises made from Westminster and forgotten the moment the votes are counted. We're here, taking up your problems, holding the Council to account, and making sure residents have a voice that's actually heard.
We believe everyone deserves to be heard — not just the powerful, not just the loudest voices, but every resident in every part of this town. Reading Lib Dems are here to fight for that. We show up, we listen, and we get things done — all year round, not just at election time.
What we stand for
Honest politics. Democracy only works when politicians are straight with people. We say what we mean and mean what we say — no spin, no empty slogans, just honest conversation about what's working, what isn't, and what we'll do about it.
Real local action. Our Councillors take up your problems and see them through. When you contact a Lib Dem Councillor, you get a response — and someone who keeps pushing until things are sorted. We work for you, not for the Council machine. Because power should serve people — not the other way round.
A fairer Reading. We believe that without equality, liberty means nothing. Nobody should be held back by poverty, poor health, or discrimination. We'll push for decisions that give every resident — regardless of background — a fair chance to thrive.
A greener Reading. We believe Reading's parks, green spaces, and river corridors are worth fighting for. We push for greener planning decisions, better active travel infrastructure, and a Council that treats sustainability as a core commitment — not an afterthought when the budget allows.
Accountability for Labour. Labour has run Reading for years. Residents deserve to ask: what have they actually delivered? We're the party willing to ask those questions publicly, scrutinise the decisions, and offer a credible alternative.
Why Lib Dems — and not the others?
Labour takes Reading for granted. They assume your vote is theirs by right, which means too little scrutiny, too many residents left waiting for action, and a Council that rarely has to justify its decisions.
The Conservatives have lost the trust of millions — and locally, they've had little to say about the issues that affect your daily life.
The Greens say they care about the environment — but under their current leadership, they've increasingly abandoned nature and climate in favour of hard-left economics. Liberal Democrats are now the party that is actually delivering for the environment in local government — from habitat banks to clean rivers to cycling infrastructure — while combining that ambition with practical action and holding power to account across everything residents care about.
Reform offers anger, not answers — and no track record of delivering anything for anyone. Across England in May 2026, Liberal Democrats were nearly three times more likely to beat Reform than Labour was. The antidote to populism isn't shouting louder — it's showing up, listening, and delivering. That's what we do.
In one part of Reading, Liberal Democrats have served residents continuously for over 60 years. That kind of trust isn't given — it's earned, year after year. We're bringing that same commitment to every part of the town.
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 and Reform 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.
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