Today, Liberal Democrat members have voted to approve the final report of our party’s Policy Review.

This has been a massive project that the party’s been working on since the General Election – with contributions from thousands of our members – and I hope you’ll find the results both interesting and inspiring.

For the past year, I’ve had the privilege of chairing the fantastic Policy Review team, made up of activists, councillors, parliamentarians and policy experts from across the party and around the country.

I am incredibly grateful to them all for the time, dedication and effort they put into this important work for our party.

Together, we examined the opportunities and challenges facing the UK today, analysed how well existing Liberal Democrat policies address them, and took a huge amount of evidence from think tanks, academics and policymakers.

But our most important job was listening to you: Liberal Democrat members and supporters.

We ran an enormous programme of engaging with members at federal and regional conferences, as well as through an online consultation that received thousands of responses.

We heard what you think about the vision you want for the future of our country, and the areas where we need bold new policies to make that vision a reality.

So I want to say a big thank you! This report is your report. Its findings are your findings. I’m immensely proud of it, and I hope you are too.

You can read it here, please share it with anyone you think might be interested:

Ed Davey
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Chair of the Policy Review

In the UK, access to public paths is shrinking. Thousands of miles of disused railway lines, canal towpaths and green spaces sit unused or blocked off.

Liberal Democrats have a vision to transform these forgotten routes into vibrant public paths for everyone to enjoy.

By creating a national legal framework to unlock thousands of miles of new walking, cycling, and horse-riding routes, we can connect communities, boost local economies, and improve health across the country.

That’s why today, Liberal Democrats members have passed new policy, to:

• Introduce a national legal framework to turn disused railway lines into public rights of way, making grassroots trail campaigns easier, faster, and fairer to all parties, with fair compensation for landowners.
   
• Create a long-term fund and incentives for local authorities and communities to reclaim unused land – including railway sidings, airfields, and industrial sites – for walking and cycling routes, allotments, and green spaces.
   
• Promote outdoor education by ensuring every child experiences residential outdoor learning during their school years.
   
• Improve canal and river towpaths in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, enhancing habitats and public access.
   
• Refresh and popularise the Countryside Code to boost respect for nature and countryside etiquette.

We believe every person should have guaranteed, fair access to Britain’s beautiful green spaces, coastlines, and waterways. The Conservatives failed to deliver the investment and legal backing needed, we will fix that.

By unlocking disused routes and investing in nature and outdoor education, we can build a healthier, greener, and more connected UK.