Liberal Democrats

A British party formed in 1988 from the merger of the Liberals and the Social Democratic Party.

Overview

The Liberal Democrats united the old Liberal Party, heir of Gladstone and Lloyd George, with the SDP, the 1981 Labour defectors, after their alliance had polled strongly but won few seats under first past the post. Paddy Ashdown built the base, Charles Kennedy opposed the Iraq war, and Nick Clegg took the party into coalition with the Conservatives in 2010, trading tuition fee reversal and damage for a referendum on electoral reform that failed. The coalition cost the party dozens of seats in 2015. Recovery followed through Jo Swinson, Ed Davey, and by-election gains. The party stands for civil liberties, European integration, and community politics.