Development + Policies Of The Libdem Party

Question 1

What is the history of the Lib Dem party

Answer 1

-until 1920s its predecessor liberal party was cons main rival
-19th C lib party epitomised by 4 time PM Gladstone, stood for free trade, religious toleration, self-help + more ethical foreign policy
-suffered split over Irish Home Rule 1885-86 + divisions during wartime coalition govt

Question 2

Who were the traditional supporters of the liberal party

Answer 2

-Christian non-conformists
-many in skilled working class
-industrialists who made their fortunes from scratch

Question 3

By the 1930s why was the liberal party relegated to 3rd party status

Answer 3

-due to loss of working class supporters to Labour
-the cons drew away middle class supporters

Question 4

What was the merge between the liberals and the SDP

Answer 4

-merged in 1988
-social Democratic Party (SDP) wary of lab commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament + withdraws from EEC
-having agreed electoral place with lob party 1983 + 1987 elections they merged 1988

Question 5

What is the Lib Dem party like today

Answer 5

-fundamentally progressive centrist party
-strong commitments to Europe + EU, concern for constitutional reform + emph on human rightly + freedoms
-pursue green environment policies
-traditionally been receptacle for protest votes from voters disillusioned with main parties

Question 6

How do the Lib Dem 2019 manifesto pledges reflect their core values

Answer 6

-stop Brexit completely + not pursue renegotiation or 2nd referendum — ploy to attract angry remainers reflects links Europe as libdems most pro-eu party + leaders energetically campaigned remain
-champion federal future for UK by expanding devolution for each nations of strong federal united UK — federalism as libdems long supported federal system of govt + opposed excessive centralisation of power
-set new legal,y binding target reduce net greenhouse gas to 0 1945 + est department for climate change — environment policy long associated with party + enthusiastically back sustainably + renewable energy

Question 7

What is the current state of the libdems

Answer 7

-coalition govt stab,e + imprint libdem influence seem in some policies but party heavily punished at polls 2015 election
-2010 won respectable 57 seats but 2015 crashed 8 only recovering slightly 2017 to 12 but crashing again to 11 2019
-recent electoral woes came down to opposition to cons coalition 2010-15 — resulted in abandonment several key policies like abolition student tuition fees