Security and Liberty in a Globalised World

6.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 13th Sep 2008

Liberal Democrat Conference discussed security policy earlier today.

The Conference acknowledged that Britain face threats that undermine global security, including climate change, increased natural disasters, energy security, tensions between states, particularly over resource depletion; proliferation of all types of armaments including nuclear weapons; organised crossborder crime and terrorism.

The Liberal Democrat remain steadfast in their belief that liberty must not be sacrificed on the altar of security and regrets the climate of fear that has been fostered by the approach of both Labour and the Conservatives to issues of domestic and international security. We believe that liberty, justice and the separation of powers are essential to achieving lasting security and that abandoning liberties, particularly in the face of unconventional threats from criminals and terrorists, will only serve to make Britain both less free and less secure.

The Liberal Democrats reaffirmed their commitment that working in cooperation with other states and international bodies is one of the key elements in ensuring Britain's security, and that Britain should therefore seek to work more effectively with its allies in the EU, NATO, the UN, the Commonwealth and other international bodies.

The Liberal Democrats believe that climate change, significantly shaped by human activities, is the greatest threat to Britain's long-term security and therefore supports an international framework that will enable each country to manage the transition to a low-carbon economy.

On the use of weapons the Liberal Democrats argued that Britain should reinvigorate multilateral arms reduction talk, support an international ban on landmines and encourage allies to negotiate, ratify and implement a ban on the use of all cluster munitions and fulfil its obligation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to negotiate in good faith towards nuclear disarmament through a major reduction of its nuclear arsenal by approximately 50 and announcing its willingness to renounce the Trident system and any successor by agreement at the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty review.