The Liberal Democrat Party - (2.2) established political parties - Political parties - UK Politics Flashcards
Liberal Democrat Party founded
1988
Mid 19th century whigs joined with supporters of political & social change and formed
Liberal party
Classical liberals main commitment
To freedom of the individual & minimal role of the state.
Modern liberals (emerged around New Liberal governments early 20th century) realised (difference from classical)
most individuals couldn’t be free due to inequalities created by capitalism and therefore freedom required some state intervention.
Why did Liberal party decline after WWI
Because of rivalry between 2 most significant figures - H.H. Asquith & David Lloyd George
Post 1945 consensus era Liberal Party representation figures were
single figures
What event happened in 1981 that was significant to Liberal Party
Division in labour party causing moderate MPs to create Social Democratic Party
Alliance 1983 & 1987 explained
SDP & Liberal Party fought these 2 elections as the Alliance
1988 event
Liberal Party & Social Democrat party merged to form Liberal Democrat Party
Liberal Party election seats in 1997
46 seats
What form of voting benefitted Liberal Democrat Party
Tactical voting when Labour constituents voted for Liberals as the next best thing
2005 Liberal party seats
62 - not enough to make them credible competition for power
Why do Liberal democrat party struggle to come to power
Due to voting system not being proportional
When did the coalition government begin
2010
Liberal democrats main themes
Constitutional reform, civil liberties & internationalism
Example of how LDs have expressed internationalism
Liberal Democrats have a positive attitude towards the EU
LD position during New Labour government
centre-left
LD views on New Labour policies
Opposed to student tuition fees, Iraq War & identity cards. Favoured 50% income tax on £100,000 earners
Charles Kennedy
Leader of Liberal Democrat Party 1999-2006
2 groups within the party (during new labour time)
Social liberals wanting generous welfare provision (more collective approach) (Beveridge Report)
‘Orange book’ Liberals supporting free market & commitment to the freedom of the individual
When did Nick Clegg become party leader
2007
Liberal Democrat seats in 2010
57 (formed coalition with Conservatives)
Referendum May 2011
On Electoral reform - LDs wanted Alternative Vote (actually wanted Single Transferable Vote but thought that was pushing it) - it got voted down and the issue got buried
2015 general election results for LDs
8 seats
Tim Farron dates & political position
Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2015-2017
Left leaning & hadn’t served in coalition
Vince Cable
Leader of Liberal Democrats 2017- present
Liberal Democrat economic policy (today)
- Emphasise eliminating budget deficit in a way fair to the poor.
- In government they had progressively raised the basic income tax threshold - ie. poorest people don’t pay tax ( Conservatives had supported this)
- 2015 promised to ‘borrow less than Labour, cut less than Tories’
- stressed environment commitment (renewable energy & expansion of Green Investment Bank)
Liberal Democrat welfare policy (today/2015)
- Coalition - shared Conservative objective of controlling spending on benefits & extending free child care enabling parents to go to work
- Pledged increased spending on NHS
- Pledged to reduce benefits to better-off pensioners to help the poorer
Liberal Democrat law and order policy (today/2015)
- Don’t want to see personal freedom eroded
- Defence of civil liberties essential
- Opposed Conservatives ‘Snooper’s Charter’ (Communications Data Bill)
- emphasis on rehabilitation of prisoners & use of community service as punishment (similar views to moderate conservatives & labour)
Communications data bill / snoopers charter
allowed greater monitoring of internet use - Conservative policy which Liberals opposed during coalition
Liberal Democrat foreign policy (today/2015)
- Positive view of EU
- Reluctant to accept Brexit result (May & Corbyn were remainers but accepted the result)
