The Lib Dems

Question 1

What is classical liberalism?

Answer 1

political ideology that emphasises individual liberty

Question 2

What did the LD party formerly exist as?

Answer 2

1877-coalition between the Whigs and radicals who supported the reform of parliament.

Question 3

Who were the first leaders of the party?

Answer 3

Lord Palmerstone and William Gladstone

Question 4

What did Gladstone assert?

Answer 4

“Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear”

Question 5

What is modern liberalism?

Answer 5

political ideology that builds on ideas of classical liberalism but adapts to the complexities of contemporary society.
to have fulfilment-at least need a basic standard of living

Question 6

When were the LDs formed?

Answer 6

1988

Question 7

In 2005 what happened to the party?

Answer 7

Under success of Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy’s opposition to Iraq war, won 62 seats and 22% of the vote in the general election

Question 8

What approach did the party adopt from 2006-07?

Answer 8

Under Menzies Campbell they were pragmatic and adopted a ‘middle way’ approach

Question 9

Under Nick Clegg what policies were there?

Answer 9

Orthodox LD policies on issues such as constitutional reform and the protection of civil liberties

Question 10

What is the Orange Book?

Answer 10

Book published in 2004 which argued that the LDs should reconnect with their 19th century commitment to free trade and free markets
Favours minimal state intervention and supports freedom, tolerance and equality
Endorses Thatcherite economics

Question 11

What marked the triumph of the ‘Orange Book’ liberals?

Answer 11

tax cuts

Question 12

Who were key Orange Book liberals?

Answer 12

Nick Clegg
Ed Davey
David Laws

Question 13

What do social liberals want?

Answer 13

reform and a mixed economy
rejects Thatcherite economics

Question 15

Who are key social liberals?

Answer 15

Tim Farron
Simon Hughes

Question 16

What happened during the 2010 coalition?

Answer 16

Cameron gave LDs 5 seats in cabinet and Clegg was deputy PM

Question 17

Why was the coalition a disaster for the LDs?

Answer 17

Electorate punished them for broken promises such as not raising tuition fees and the poor performance of the UK economy.
The party only won 8 seats at the 2015 election, Clegg lost his seat and resigned as leader

Question 18

Who was the new leader after Clegg?

Answer 18

Tim Farron
resigned after 2017 GE due to his Christian faith and party’s stance on homosexuality

Question 19

What did Jo Swinson fight the 2019 election on?

Answer 19

Satisfy dissatisfied LP and CP voters
Pro-Europe and environmental party

Question 20

Why did Jo Swinson step down?

Answer 20

lost her seat to SNP by 149 votes
She wanted a 2nd referendum
“not regret trying everything” to avoid Brexit

Question 21

Who became leader in 2020?

Answer 21

Ed Davey
Strong supporter of EU
Stated the party’s message as one of ‘social justice, political reform, equality and protecting the environment’

Question 22

Which victory will go down in history for the Lib Dems?

Answer 22

Tiverton and Honiton June 2022- one of safest CP seats, with a 24,000 majority. The last time constituency weren’t represented by CP MP was before Queen Victoria was on the throne.
Guardian-‘LDs are breathing down Tory MPs necks across the south’

Question 23

What did Davey fight the 2024 election on?

Answer 23

Free personal care, More GPs, scrap Rwanda scheme, 16 vote, proportional rep, re-join the single market

Question 24

What are core values of liberalism?

Answer 24

Liberty-core value-state should interfere as little as possible but sometimes needed to assist freedom
Social Justice-equality of opportunity
Welfare-don’t want regulation but can’t be free without it
Constitutionalism-power of gov firmly controlled
Social Reform-support women’s rights, disabled, ethnic minorities and gay marriage
Multiculturalism-
Environment-protecting

Question 25

What are Lib Dem ideas and policies today?

Answer 25

Pragmatic economy-poor should be protected by wealthy
Law and Order-rehabilitation in prisons, committed to UKs membership of European Convention of Human Rights
EU-allow free movement of people and labour
Foreign Policy-Support NATO, abandon renewal of Trident nuclear submarine missile system
Democratic HoL