Liberal Democrats Party Pledge Tracker

The Liberal Democrats are now the third largest party in parliament and will accordingly be assigned much more focus, time, and resources to raise their issues in parliament. In opposition, they will have less routes to actually put these pledges into law, but they will have powers to press the government to incorporate their ideas into the government’s own legislation, questioning ministers and pushing amendments to make the government go further in their promises.

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The Green Economy

Party Pledge

What progress has been made?

Coordinating action across the UK by creating a Joint Climate Council of the Nations

No significant progress has been made

Aiming for the complete elimination of non-recyclable single-use plastics within three years

No significant progress has been made

Introducing a deposit return scheme for food and drink bottles and container

Ministers have not committed to accelerating existing plans for a bottle return scheme by 2027

Appoint a Chief Secretary for Sustainability in the Treasury

No significant progress made

Establish national and local citizens’ assemblies on climate action

The Government has not committed to utilise further citizens assemblies for policy making

Return international development spending to 0.7% of national income, with tackling climate change a key priority

Investing in education and training to equip people with the skills needed for the low-carbon economy of the future

The Government has announced it is reviewing general training provision

Ensure a just transition that values the skills and experience in the oil and gas industry and provides good opportunities for workers

No significant progress made

Set out a clear and stable roadmap to net zero

Whilst individual policies have been released, a holistic plan has not been released

Expand the market for climate-friendly products and services with steadily higher criteria in public procurement

This issue has been raised in parliament but no progress has been made

Implement the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for high-emission products

The government have not announced any changes to the current CBAM system

Reduce emissions from industrial processes by supporting carbon capture and storage

Funding for Carbon Capture and Storage was announced as part of the National Wealth Fund

Support the development of regional industrial clusters for zero-carbon innovation

No significant progress made

Increase the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund

No announcements have been made by government about this fund

Requiring all large companies listed on UK stock exchanges to set targets consistent with achieving the net zero goal

No significant progress made

Regulating financial services to encourage climate-friendly investments

No significant progress made

Housing and Planning

Party Pledge

What progress has been made?

Ten-year emergency home upgrade programme, starting with free insulation and heat pumps for those on low incomes.

An EPC-B mandate on rental home and commercial buildings forms part of King’s Speech announced government legislation

Expanding incentives for households to install solar panels, including a guaranteed fair price for electricity sold back into the grid.

Ministers have confirmed that a review  of these topics in regard to housing standards next year

Requiring all new homes and non-domestic buildings to be built to a zero-carbon standard

No significant progress has been made

Requiring landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties to EPC C or above by 2028

Legislation launched at the King’s Speech would see this being mandated by 2030

Energy

Party Pledge

What progress has been made?

Invest in renewable power so that 90% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2030

The Government has approved several renewable projects and begun legislation for further investment

Social tariff for the most vulnerable to provide targeted energy discounts for vulnerable households

This issue has been raised in parliament but no government plans have been confirmed

Implement a proper, one-off windfall tax on the super-profits of oil and gas producers and traders

Increases to the existing tax have been announced to come into force in November

Removing the Conservatives’ unnecessary restrictions on new solar and wind power

The Government has lifted the defacto ban on onshore wind

Decoupling electricity prices from the wholesale gas price

No significant progress made

Building the grid infrastructure required, facilitated by a strategic Land and Sea Use Framework

Legislation addressing grid infrastructure was announced at the King’s Speech

Building more electricity interconnectors between the UK and other countries to guarantee security of supply

No significant progress made

Empowering local authorities to develop local renewable electricity generation and storage strategies

Ministers have suggested that upcoming legislation will contain elements related to localised energy principles

Give small low-carbon generators the right to export their electricity to an existing electricity supplier on fair terms

No significant progress made

Reduce access costs for grid connections

Legislation addressing grid infrastructure was announced at the King’s Speech

Reform the energy network to permit local energy grids

No significant progress made

Transport and Infrastructure

Party Pledge

What progress has been made?

Rapidly roll out more EV charging points

No significant progress made

Reintroduce the plug-in car grant

There are currently no ministerial plans to reintroduce the grant

Freeze rail fares and simplify ticketing on public transport

Lib Dems in Parliament have publisised this issue but no progress has been made

Significantly extend the electrification of Britain’s rail network

Electrification has not been included in the transport legislation announced through the King’s Speech

Improve train stations, particularly disabled access

No significant progress made

Reopen smaller Train Stations

No significant progress made

Deliver Northern Powerhouse rail

No significant progress made

Boost bus services by giving local authorities more powers to franchise services and simplifying funding

Further powers have been devolved to the local level through legislation in the King’s Speech

Creating new cycling and walking networks with a new nationwide active travel strategy

No progress has been made towards the creation of a new national active travel strategy

Give more of the roads budget to local councils to maintain existing roads, pavements and cycleways

No significant progress made

Invest in research and development to make the UK the world leader in zero-carbon flight

Legislation in the King’s Speech has focused on sustainable aviation fuels

Take steps to reduce demand for flying

No significant progress made

Requiring the National Infrastructure Commission to take fully into account the environmental implications of all national infrastructure decisions

Ministers have announced major reforms to the National Infrastructure Commission

Establish a new Railway Agency: a public body which would help to join up the industry

Legislation in the King’s Speech, concerning Great British Rail, addresses this topic

Integrate bus, rail and light rail ticketing systems so that a daily fare cap can be introduced for those taking several trips a day

No significant progress made

Devolve greater decision-making powers and resources to local authorities in England to design public transport infrastructure around community needs

Further powers have been devolved to the local level through legislation in the King’s Speech

Nature and Agriculture

Party Pledge

What progress has been made?

Transform water companies into public benefit companies

No significant progress made

Ban bonuses for water bosses until discharges and leaks end

Legislation on this topic was launched in the King’s Speech

Replace Ofwat with a tough new regulator with new powers to prevent sewage dumps

Legislation on this topic was launched in the King’s Speech but there are no plans to replace Ofwat

Introduce a Sewage Tax on water company profits

Legislation on this topic was launched in the King’s Speech but there are no plans to introduce a new related tax

Give local environmental groups a place on water companies’ boards

No significant progress made

Introduce a single social tariff for water bills to help eliminate water poverty

No significant progress made

Mandate all water companies to publish accessible real-time data on any sewage they dump

Legislation related to this topic was launched in the King’s Speech

Strengthen the Office for Environmental Protection and provide more funding to the Environment Agency and Natural England

Ministers have announced a review of environmental regulatory powers

Introduce a holistic and comprehensive National Food Strategy

Ministers have committed to reviewing the need for a National Food Strategy

Accelerate the rollout of the new Environmental Land Management schemes

Ministers have announced a review of this system and launched adjacent schemes

Maintain high health, environmental and animal welfare standards in food production and guarantee that all future trade deals will meet them too

No new trade agreements have been finalised

Give Britain’s farmers the ability to trade with our European neighbours with minimal need for checks

No significant progress made

Support farmers properly in restoring woodland, peatland and waterways, creating new natural flood protections and managing land to encourage species recovery and carbon storage

No significant progress made beyond the systems already in place

Introduce a general duty of care for the environment

This issue has not been raised in parliament since the election

Pass a Clean Air Act

Ministers have committed to a Clean Air Strategy, but not to legislate for this

Set meaningful and binding targets to stop the decline of our natural environment

Ministers have committed to reviewing current targets

Double the size of the Protected Area Network, double the area of most important wildlife habitats, double the abundance of species and double woodland cover by 2050

These points have been raised by Labour MPs in parliament but not committed to by government ministers

Plant at least 60 million trees a year

No significant progress made

Pass a new Environmental Rights Act, recognising everyone’s human right to a healthy environment .

No significant progress made

Protecting at least 30% of land and sea areas by 2030 for nature’s recovery

Ministers have committed to this in Parliament, no plans have been shared as of yet

Create a real network of marine protected areas

These points have been raised by Labour MPs in parliament but not committed to by government ministers

Introduce a new Blue Carbon and Soils Carbon Standards that are properly enforced and accredited

These issues have not been raised in parliament