Last year, I wrote about the lack of a Lib Dem vision for economic growth here.

Since then, we have started to sketch out some ideas. Last month, in a speech encouragingly entitled “Get Britain Growing Again” Daisy Cooper, our Treasury Spokesperson, announced a new policy to establish a Department for Growth that would seek to de-fang the “anti-growth” Treasury. While this headline (and a move to Birmingham) got most of the attention, Daisy also clearly stated that “Getting Britain Growing Again must be any government’s number one goal”.

I agree with this and, in my earlier article, I rather unabashedly declared that “fixing the UK’s growth problem underpins EVERYTHING”. Without growth, we cannot fix the issues we campaign on and care about, whether that is adult social care, SEND, the NHS, defence and inequality. Many commentators on LDV disagreed with my point at the time, but it seems Daisy, at least, agrees.

The policy announcement on reforms to the Treasury were a welcome acknowledgement that the UK has a wildly over-powered and centralised department that focuses, above all else, on short term spending control and arbitrary targets. Reforming the Treasury will be difficult. If we are to succeed, then I think local authorities and mayoralties need to be set free. We need meaningful fiscal devolution to allow local government to invest and build infrastructure – a tram for Leeds anyone?

While a welcome announcement, I feel that we need to go further to have a meaningful and eye catching vision for growth for the UK. I am hopeful that the Thriving Economy working group can help build out such a vision. They have published a consultation paper ahead of Spring Conference and are due to host a session on their paper on Friday.

Crucially, a meaningful vision for growth has the power to really set the Liberal Democrat message apart. Right now, the electorate has a choice of a lacklustre government that, notwithstanding their intermittent references to growth being their “number one mission”, they just appear to be a continuation of the incompetence of the previous Conservative administration. Reform are a grab bag of scape-goating, wild promises of tax cuts with a dose of quasi-Thatcherism. The resurgent Greens appear to be re-inventing themselves as Momentum style left populists.

We can offer an alternative. D66, our Dutch sister party, recently showed the way. D66 was comfortable defending democratic institutions and norms, while also being socially progressive and, crucially, committing to an abundance agenda focused on housing and getting things built.

Importantly, D66 embraced the vibe of a party willing to end stagnation and expand supply rather than simply manage scarcity. This was capped by an eye-catching call to build 10 new cities.

It is with this in mind that several Lib Dem colleagues and I have formed a new group within the Liberal Democrats: Lib Dems for Growth.  We will be at Spring Conference, so if you are there and are interested, please drop by our stall. There is a bit more about us below:

Lib Dems for Growth exists within the Liberal Democrats to support and promote a pro-growth vision for the Party.

Lib Dems for Growth seeks to positively influence the Party’s politics, policy and culture towards an agenda that is supportive of economic growth, housing, energy, development and infrastructure.

Specifically, we will:

Advocate for significantly higher housing delivery, including social, affordable and market housing, with reforms to planning that prioritise outcomes over process.

Support major public and private infrastructure investment (transport, water, digital and public services) as essential to economic growth, regional equality and quality of life. Advocate for meaningful devolution to mayors and local authorities to raise finance and invest in local infrastructure.

Champion clean energy and lower energy costs, based on nuclear and grid expansion, recognising that net zero and energy security require faster approval and construction of projects.

Challenge NIMBYism where it conflicts with liberal values, while promoting high-quality design, community benefit and local consent mechanisms.

Develop policy proposals that balance environmental protection, local democracy and national need — moving the party from opposition to delivery-ready government.

The group is explicitly pro-growth, pro-building and pro-future, arguing that social justice, environmental responsibility and economic opportunity all depend on the ability to build.

* Steve Wotton has been a Lib Dem member since 2018 and, since 2024, a Lib Dem Councillor in Surrey. He is also a local activist in the Dorking & Horley Constituency. Together with several fellow Lib Dems he is part of the inaugural Lib Dems for Growth Board.