The Liberal Democrat Party - (2.2) established political parties - Political parties - UK Politics

Question 1

Liberal Democrat Party founded

Answer 1

1988

Question 2

Mid 19th century whigs joined with supporters of political & social change and formed

Answer 2

Liberal party

Question 3

Classical liberals main commitment

Answer 3

To freedom of the individual & minimal role of the state.

Question 4

Modern liberals (emerged around New Liberal governments early 20th century) realised (difference from classical)

Answer 4

most individuals couldn’t be free due to inequalities created by capitalism and therefore freedom required some state intervention.

Question 5

Why did Liberal party decline after WWI

Answer 5

Because of rivalry between 2 most significant figures - H.H. Asquith & David Lloyd George

Question 6

Post 1945 consensus era Liberal Party representation figures were

Answer 6

single figures

Question 7

What event happened in 1981 that was significant to Liberal Party

Answer 7

Division in labour party causing moderate MPs to create Social Democratic Party

Question 8

Alliance 1983 & 1987 explained

Answer 8

SDP & Liberal Party fought these 2 elections as the Alliance

Question 9

1988 event

Answer 9

Liberal Party & Social Democrat party merged to form Liberal Democrat Party

Question 10

Liberal Party election seats in 1997

Answer 10

46 seats

Question 11

What form of voting benefitted Liberal Democrat Party

Answer 11

Tactical voting when Labour constituents voted for Liberals as the next best thing

Question 12

2005 Liberal party seats

Answer 12

62 - not enough to make them credible competition for power

Question 13

Why do Liberal democrat party struggle to come to power

Answer 13

Due to voting system not being proportional

Question 14

When did the coalition government begin

Answer 14

2010

Question 15

Liberal democrats main themes

Answer 15

Constitutional reform, civil liberties & internationalism

Question 16

Example of how LDs have expressed internationalism

Answer 16

Liberal Democrats have a positive attitude towards the EU

Question 17

LD position during New Labour government

Answer 17

centre-left

Question 18

LD views on New Labour policies

Answer 18

Opposed to student tuition fees, Iraq War & identity cards. Favoured 50% income tax on £100,000 earners

Question 19

Charles Kennedy

Answer 19

Leader of Liberal Democrat Party 1999-2006

Question 20

2 groups within the party (during new labour time)

Answer 20

Social liberals wanting generous welfare provision (more collective approach) (Beveridge Report)

‘Orange book’ Liberals supporting free market & commitment to the freedom of the individual

Question 21

When did Nick Clegg become party leader

Answer 21

2007

Question 22

Liberal Democrat seats in 2010

Answer 22

57 (formed coalition with Conservatives)

Question 23

Referendum May 2011

Answer 23

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

Question 24

2015 general election results for LDs

Answer 24

8 seats

Question 25

Tim Farron dates & political position

Answer 25

Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2015-2017

Left leaning & hadn’t served in coalition

Question 26

Vince Cable

Answer 26

Leader of Liberal Democrats 2017- present

Question 27

Liberal Democrat economic policy (today)

Answer 27

• 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)

Question 28

Liberal Democrat welfare policy (today/2015)

Answer 28

• 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

Question 29

Liberal Democrat law and order policy (today/2015)

Answer 29

• 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)

Question 30

Communications data bill / snoopers charter

Answer 30

allowed greater monitoring of internet use - Conservative policy which Liberals opposed during coalition

Question 31

Liberal Democrat foreign policy (today/2015)

Answer 31

• Positive view of EU

- Reluctant to accept Brexit result (May & Corbyn were remainers but accepted the result)