New members have been asking about Lib Dem organisations that they can join.  You are welcome to submit similar items on behalf of other organisations.

Liberal International British Group (LIBG) is the body for Liberal Democrats interested in international issues.

All too often, the pressures of local campaigning mean that there is little room in constituency parties for any discussion of international topics, and few outlets for those members whose political interest stretch beyond the UK.

LIBG holds speaker meetings on the situation in other countries several times a year in London and now also has branches in the north west, the midlands and Scotland, which organise their own activities.

Our recent meetings have included EU migration, the impact of radical Islam, a showing of the film Lakshmi about trafficking of women in India and discussion meetings on Ukraine and Egypt

We also hold an annual reception for the diplomatic community in London at which LIBG members can meet ambassadors and other diplomats from around the world.

Very roughly, within the Lib Dems our colleagues in the Liberal Democrat European Group deal with European issues and LIBG with the ‘rest of the world’.

LIBG is affiliated in its own right to Liberal International – separately from he Liberal Democrats – and this enables LIBG members to take part in LI’s congresses and executive meetings round the world where one can meet liberal colleagues from Africa, Asia, South America, Canada and elsewhere in Europe and learn how our colleagues operate, in some cases, in countries with little or no political freedom.

The next congress will be in Mexico City. Sadly, as LIBG is a small organisation and the Liberal Democrats are not state-funded, attendance at these events is at participants’ own expense.

Please have a look at our website and that of Liberal International.

Our next meetings is a discussion on China following a short annual general meeting. I look forward to seeing you there.

Annual membership of LIBG is £25. Please see the application form here.

* Wendy Kyrle-Pope is Chair of Liberal International British Group