Journal of Liberal History

England Objects to the Treaty of Versailles, June 1, 1919

Journal of Liberal History

For the discussion and research of Liberal, Liberal Democrat and SDP history

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On This Day

09 June 1983

Polling day in the 1983 election

Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives are re-elected with an increased majority. The Liberal/SDP Alliance fighting its first joint election performed reasonably well. Roy Jenkins, the SDP leader, was appointed ‘Prime Minister designate’ but concern at Jenkins’ lack of impact led to a refocusing of the campaign with the more popular Liberal leader David Steel being given a more prominent role. Alliance fortunes improved as the election went on to the extent that the Alliance was only 600,000 votes behind Labour in second place. This was not reflected in the number of MPs elected with only 23 successful candidates (17 Liberal/6 SDP). Among the new Liberal and SDP MPs elected were Michael Meadowcroft (Leeds West) and two future leaders – Paddy Ashdown (Yeovil) and Charles Kennedy (Ross, Cromarty & Skye).

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We publish the Journal of Liberal History and a range of books

The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of topics relating to the histories of the British Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, the Liberal Party and the SDP, and of liberalism more broadly.

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We aim to appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of British Liberalism, whether academics, party activists or spare-time students of political history.

Things we do:

Publish the quarterly Journal of Liberal History, containing articles, book reviews, biographies, and meeting reports

Publish books, including Peace, Reform and Liberation: A History of Liberal Politics in Britain 1679-2011, Dictionary of Liberal Thought, and Great Liberal Speeches

Make resources available to students of Liberal history, including news of research in progress and guides to archive sources (see Research resources)

Provide a concise history of the Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, along with a more extensive set of historical articles and biographies – the Liberal History Online project, available through themes and time periods.

Publish shorter booklets as concise reference sources, including Liberal History (a concise history of the Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties), Liberal Leaders 1828-1899, Liberal Leaders of the Twentieth Century and Mothers of Liberty: Women who built British Liberalism

Organise discussion meetings, both in London and as fringe meetings at Liberal Democrat conferences

“There are hazards in everything one does, but there are greater hazards in doing nothing.”

Shirley Williams

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