Liberal Democrats Our plan to promote our internationalist values and restore
our global standing



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As we gear up for the General Election, we're sharing our pre-manifesto
policies through a series of emails, focusing on the Fair Deal we're
championing in key areas.

The pre-manifesto is an early version of the party’s manifesto for the
General Election, setting out our core values and vision. More details on these
policies, and how they will be implemented, will be outlined when the full
manifesto is published.

Here's a snapshot of our plans for foreign policy and defence 🔽


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Why we need a Fair Deal for Foreign Affairs & Defence



Today’s world is fragile, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East,
growing concerns over China and democracies under siege.

Our liberal voice is needed on the world stage like never before. We must
champion democracy, liberty, human rights and the rule of law.

But the Conservatives are undermining Britain’s reputation - threatening to
break international law with the Rwanda Bill, cutting the aid budget, and
damaging relations with allies.

We can’t pull up the drawbridge - we must be outward-looking, supporting
those in need and being a strong and reliable partner on the world stage.

We will:

✅ Restore the UK’s reputation as an international development superpower, by
reinstating 0.7% of national income for aid and re-establishing a Department
for International Development.

✅ Put human rights at the heart of trade, by banning imports from areas with
abuses such as Xinjiang and controlling arms exports to countries with poor
human rights records.

✅ Stop oligarchs from corrupt regimes channelling their money through the UK,
including by increasing funding for the National Crime Agency.

✅ Fix our broken relationship with Europe, by following our four-stage
roadmap to deepen trade and rebuild our ties.


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Fixing the broken relationship with Europe



The Conservatives’ deal with Europe has alienated our closest neighbours and
damaged the economy; especially farmers, fishers, and small businesses.

We have a four-stage roadmap to rebuild this relationship:

✅ Take initial unilateral steps to mitigate the damage of the deal, by
building closer ties in sectors like education.

✅ Pursue confidence-building measures, such as joining the Erasmus Plus
student exchange programme.

✅ Deepen our trading relationship through new arrangements, like securing a
veterinary agreement.

✅ Once the ties of trade and friendship are renewed, seek to put our
relationship on a more formal and stable footing, by seeking tojoin the Single
Market.


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A Fair Deal for the Armed Forces & Defence



Today’s global instability shows we need a robust defence policy. The
Conservatives have shown complacency, cutting troop numbers by 10,000 and
leaving the Armed Forces ill-equipped. Meanwhile, service personnel and
veterans lack suitable housing and mental health support.

We will strengthen the Armed Forces and better support its workforce by:

✅ Cancelling the Conservatives’ cut to the Army.

✅ Maintaining the UK’s support for NATO, and meeting our NATO commitments on
defence every year.

✅ Working more closely with our NATO and EU partners in developing defence
technologies.

✅ Introducing a fair deal for service personnel and veterans - we will place
a legal duty on the Defence Secretary to give due regard to the Armed Forces
Covenant.

✅ Maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent with continuous at-sea deterrence,
while pursuing multilateral global disarmament.


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That’s the fair deal for foreign affairs and defence that we’ll be fighting
for at the General Election.

Stay tuned for the next edition of our Fair Deal series - coming to your
inbox soon!

Best wishes,




Liberal Democrats



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Will you support our fight for a Fair Deal?


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