The Social Liberal Forum (often abbreviated to SLF) is a pressure group and think tank which seeks to promote social liberalism within Britain.[1] The Social Liberal Forum originated as a group that represented the centre-left within the British Liberal Democrats,[2][3] but membership is now open also to people who are not members of the Liberal Democrats but who share the SLF's values and principles; since 2018 this has included liberalprogressives of all parties and none. The SLF regularly organises Fringe events at the twice-per-year Liberal Democrat Conference and, increasingly, provides speakers to events elsewhere.
Overview
The SLF was launched in February 2009.[4][5] The book Reinventing the State: Social Liberalism for the 21st Century has been said to be influential on the thinking of those who created the SLF.[6] The SLF did not take a corporate position on the suitability of the Coalition Government between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives and campaigned for many changes to Coalition policy on issues such as NHS reforms,[5] economic policy [7] and cuts to welfare spending.[8]
On 9 March 2018, the Social Liberal Forum published a book, edited by Helen Flynn, entitled "Four Go In Search of Big Ideas: Putting Progressive Ideas at the Heart of UK Politics".[10] The book included chapters from a range of social liberal, social democratic and green political thinkers and aimed to build a "progressive alliance of people, ideas and campaigns".[11] The book covered three main policy areas (the economy, welfare and climate change) and included contributions from active members of the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party. The Forum regularly publishes pamphlets written by members relevant to social liberal thought and action.[12]
Books
Pre-SLF and non-SLF books by social liberals
Much of the debate and organisation of the Social Liberal Forum emerged from the following book, published in 2007, which was framed as a response and antidote to The Orange Book:
It was subsequently reprinted by Politico's in 2009, to tie in with the launch of the SLF.
Another book, published in 2012, subjected The Orange Book to further scrutiny, challenging its emphasis on economic liberalism and rejecting its preponderant support for market solutions:
A new book, published in April 2023, with a paperback version which came out in April 2024, envisions a new form of egalitarian liberalism that focuses on the need for a fairer and more equitable society:
Vince Cable, Inequality: A Speech Given by Sir Vince Cable MP at the Resolution Foundation, 6th September 2017 (Social Liberal Forum, London, September 2017). 12pp.
The current Chair of the Social Liberal Forum is Cllr Iain Brodie-Browne and Deputy-Chair Louise Harris.[13] Previous Chairs of the SLF have included Helen Flynn, Naomi Smith, Gareth Epps, David Hall-Matthews and Richard Grayson.
