2.2 Established political parties: Lib dems Flashcards
Liberal Democrats
created when?
1988 (as we know them)
Liberal Democrats
How did they congregate? Robert Peel?
- Whigs, radicals, and conservatives who didn’t support Robert Peels repeal of the corn laws in the 1850s formed the liberal party
Liberal Democrats
how did they become dominant in politics? what did they advocate for?
- under william gladstone
- advocating lower taxes, balanced budgets, parliamentary reform, free trade, moral approach to foreign policy
Liberal Democrats
decline?
- throughout the 1920s as Labour grew in importance
- by the end of WW2, it had been eclipsed by Labour and wasn’t able to win a seat until merger with the SDP in 1980s
Modern Librealism
Modern and New Liberalism
- modern: TH Green, John Hobson, William Beveridge, Mary Wollestonecraft, Betty Friedan, JSM: governemnt must have lots of welfare for the poorest in society
- new: indicates individual freedoms and self fulfilment required at least a basic standard of living, under H.H. Asquith old age pensions were introduced, partly paid for by higher taxes on the wealthy
SDP-Liberal and the Liberal Democrats
gang of four
- 1981: 4 leading members of the Labour Party left, and formed the social democratic party known as the gang of four. Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Shirley Williams, and Bill Rodgers
SDP-Liberal and the Liberal Democrats
how did they form an alliance? who with? which elections?
- the group formed an ‘alliance’ with David Steel of the Liberals
- they stood during the 1983 and 1987 elections as the SDP-Liberal Alliance
- In 1988 they formally merged and became the Lib Dems
1983 and 1987 ‘success’
success in these elections?
- lots of votes
- but didn’t translate to seats because of the FPTP system
1983 and 1987 ‘success’
1988 they became what? who led them?
- they became the liberal democrats
- Paddy Ashdown won the first leadership election, and led the party until 1988
2000s and further success
2005
- 62 seats won nder the leadership of Charles Kennedy
2000s and further success
2010
- 52 seats
- formed a coalition with David Cameron and the Conservatives
Disaster in the coalition?
what happened during the coalition? how did they lie?
- electorate punished Lib Dems for breaking a number of manifesto pledges once they were working with the conservatives
- they broke a signed pledge that tuition fees would not be raised.
- they also took some blame for poor economic performance during the time in office
- failed AV referendum?
Disaster in the coalition?
2015
- they won 8 seats
- and have only seen small gains ever since - 11 seats in 2019
- not true today: they won 72 seats in the 2024 general election
current liberal democrat ideas and policies
overall key points
- pro european. Ed Davey accepted rejoining the EU would not be possible in 2021, but still wanted to maintain the ‘closest possible relationship with out European Partners’
- Committed to the ECHR
- committeed to a democratic house of lords
- further devolution for accountability, and proportional representation at Westminister
Modern Liberal Democrat policies
the economy
- strong democrat influence, by increasing income tax by 1p
- the liberal democats would also invest £150b on green infrastructure over 3 years
Modern Liberal Democrat policies
welfare
- the liberal democrats would restore the university maintenance grant to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend university
- 8000 more GPs
- guarantee for all patients to start treatment for cancer within 62 days from urgent referral
- higher carers minimum wage
Modern Liberal Democrat policies
Law and order
- community policing to discourage crime and develop trust
- improving rehabilitation centres and prisons, with stronger supervision on offenders
Modern Liberal Democrat policies
foreign policy
- fix the UKs broken relationship with Europe
- increase international spending
- supporting international institutions such as the UN, commonwealth, NATO, and the international criminal court
