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The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the 3 state parties^[1] within the federal structure^[2] of the British Liberal Democrats; the others being the English and the Welsh parties.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are the equal third-largest political party in the Scottish Parliament with the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, with 17 MSPs. Since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, they have been the junior partner in a coalition government with the Scottish Labour Party, to form the Scottish Executive.

The leader of their parliamentary group in the Scottish Parliament, currently Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen MSP (since 23 June 2005), is the party leader.

Contents 1 Policy platform 2 Structure 3 Secretariat 4 Conferences 5 Associated organisations 6 References 7 See also 8 External links

The Scottish Liberal Democrats determine much of their policy independently from the Federal Party, including not only devolved issues but also those reserved matters which the party considers should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.^[3]

In keeping with its basis as a federation of organisations, the Scottish party is composed of 8 regional parties (based on the boundaries of the 8 Scottish Parliament electoral regions), which are further composed of local parties (which follow the boundaries of the 73 Scottish Parliament constituencies).

The post of Chief Executive is currently occupied by Martin Hayman.

The party is based at 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh.

The party holds 2 conferences per year: a three-day Spring Conference, last held in Aviemore from 24-26 March 2006; and a one-day Autumn Conference, last held in Dunfermline on 14 October 2006. The next Spring Conference will be held in Aviemore Highland Resort on 16-18 February 2007.

The party has 5 associated groups:

• Association of Scottish Liberal Democrat Councillors and Campaigners
• Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality (Scottish Board)
• Scottish Green Liberal Democrats
• Scottish Women Liberal Democrats
• Scottish Young Liberal Democrats (SYLD)

1. ^ "The party is led by Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen MSP and is a state party within the Liberal Democrats", scotlibdems.org.uk, accessed 23 September 2006 (cached)
2. ^ "Party Structure", scotlibdems.org.uk
3. ^ "Scottish policy responsibilities include all devolved matters plus matters that we believe should be the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament.", scotlibdems.org.uk

• Scottish Liberal Club
• Steel Commission
• Politics of Scotland
• Elections in Scotland

• Official website
• Party archives at the National Library of Scotland
• ASPECT: Access to Scottish Parliamentary Election Candidate Materials, University of Strathclyde
• Statements of accounts, registered at The Electoral Commission