2. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a social liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. The party was formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the short lived Social Democratic Party (the two parties had already been in an alliance for some years) The party is led by Charles Kennedy. It is currently the third-largest party in the UK Parliament, behind Labour and the Conservatives, and currently has 62 Members of Parliament after the general election of 2005.

3. Back common EU asylum policy with fair sharing of asylum settlement; allow asylum seekers to work so don't rely on benefits; quota for immigrant workers from outside EU. £8bn more on health; reduce diagnostic waiting lists for tests ; free long term care for elderly; free eye tests, drugs for long-term illnesses; ban smoking in public places. 10,000 extra police; tackle drug dealers rather than cannabis users; out-of-hours school courses against yob culture; local communities decide sentences for low level criminals. Cut class sizes for youngest children; ensure all children are taught by a qualified teacher in each subject; abolish "unnecessary tests"; scrap university fees. Boost basic state pension by £100+ a month and restore pensions-earnings link for over-75s; link pension to residency not national insurance payments; free long-term personal care. Replace council tax with a local income tax; new 50% tax rate on earnings over £100,000 a year; raise stamp duty threshold to £150,000 to help first-time buyers. Would work towards the right conditions for joining the euro and then call referendum; back EU constitution, saying it will make clear the limits on Brussels powers. Replace fuel tax/VED with national road user charging; congestion charging; shift spending from roads to public transport; free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners/disabled.