The Liberal Democrats, formed from the merger of the Liberal Party and the SDP, came into being at a dark time for Liberalism and struggled to survive in its early years. Yet despite competition from a revitalised New Labour, the party achieved real successes in by-elections and local elections and in 1997 saw the highest number of MPs elected since the 1920s – adding to the number even further in 2001 and 2005, particularly on the back of the party’s opposition to the Iraq War. The party’s strength in local government grew significantly, and Liberal Democrat ministers served in coalitions with the Labour Party in the Scottish and Welsh governments after 1999.
The end of Jo Grimond's leadership in 1967 heralded a bleak period for the Liberal Party. His successor, Jeremy Thorpe, was never assured of the complete confidence of his parliamentary colleagues. Unlike Grimond, he displayed little interest in ideas, though he was an accomplished organiser, fund-raiser and speaker.
The poor performance of the Liberal-SDP Alliance at the June 1987 election prompted the Liberal leader, David Steel to call for the unity of both wings, after only 22 seats were secured by both sides.
It is difficult to realise that it is now sixteen years since the trauma and angst of the merger negotiations. As far as factual accuracy is concerned the book by Tony Greaves and Rachael Pitchford is an excellent record of the proceedings. There were only a few points of difference that I took up with them at the time.
Paddy Ashdown on realignment; the Guildhall, Chard, Somerset, 9 May 1992.
David Gourley on joining the SDP in 1981 and working with the Liberals through the Alliance and merger.
The 'Dead Parrot' became the nickname of the policy document due to be issued, alongside the new party's constitution, at the successful culmination of merger negotiations between the SDP and the Liberals. In fact it proved a disaster, nearly upsetting the whole merger process, after its controversial contents were disowned by Liberal MPs and activists on the very day it was due to be released.
The merger of the Liberals and the SDP was finally completed on 3 March 1988, when the new Social & Liberal Democrats (SLD) was formally launched following a majority vote by the memberships of both parties.
The fourth Viv Bingham Lecture, as delivered by Tony Greaves
Review of Martin Pugh, State and Society. A Social and Political History of Britain since 1870 (Bloomsbury Academic, 2017)
Autumn Conference fringe meeting, 16 September 2018, with Anthony Howe and Eugenio Biagini; chair: Julie Smith.
An examination of the history of the Canadian Liberal Party.
A look at how Paddy Ashdown’s life and career were remembered and celebrated in the media.
A recollection of the career of Paddy Ashdown, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 1988–99.
Review of Andrew Duff, On Governing Europe: A Federal Experiment (Spinelli Group, 2018)
Review of Guy Verhofstadt, Europe’s Last Chance: Why the European States Must Form a More Perfect Union (Basic Books, 2017)
Interview with Shirley Williams
From Cobden to the Common Market
Report of Liberal Democrat History Group fringe meeting, Bournemouth, 17 September 2017, with Kath Pinnock, Tony Greaves, Richard Kemp, Sarah Bedford, Matt Cole and Ruth Dombey; chair: Andrew Stunell
Biography of Geraint Howells
Evening meeting of the Liberal Democrat History Group, 3 July 2017 with Greg Hurst and Lord Newby; chair: Baroness Lindsay Northover
The characteristics of Liberal Democrat members analysed
The 1915 general election (Graem Peters, Peter Rowland); Chris Rennard
interview (Barry Standen, Roger Jenking)
Comparative table of leadership performance updated to 2017
An interview with Chris Rennard, former Director of Campaigns and Chief Executive of the Liberal Democrats, about election campaigning.
Review of Norman Baker, Against the Grain (Biteback Publishing, 2015).
Evening meeting of the Liberal History Group, 27 June 2016, with John Campbell and David Steel. Chair: Dick Newby.
A review of the life and political career of Richard Livsey, Lord Livsey of Talgarth (1935–2010)
An examination of the legacy of the Social Democratic Party.
Review of David Torrance, David Steel: Rising Hope to Elder Statesman (Biteback Publishing, 2012).
Review of Paddy Ashdown, The Ashdown Diaries: Volume Two 1997-1999 (Allen Lane, 2001).
Review of Chris Cook, A Short History of the Liberal Party 1900-2001 (Palgrave, 2002).
Review of David Torrance, David Steel: Rising Hope to Elder Statesman (Biteback Publishing, 2012)
Review of Dr Elizabeth Evans, Gender and the Liberal Democrats – Representing Women? (Manchester University Press, 2011)
Examination of the record of the Liberal Democrat-Labour coalition in Wales, 2000-2003.
Examination of the record of the Liberal Democrat-Labour coalitions in Scotland, 1999-2007.
Examination of the sources of electoral support for the Liberal Democrats.
Report of the joint meeting of the Liberal Democrat and Labour History Groups, 22 January 2013, with Paddy Ashdown, Roger Liddle and Pat McFadden MP; chair: Steve Richards.
A description of the key characteristics of Liberal Democrat leaders and analysis of the record of the four leaders to date.
Introduction to this special issue of the Journal.
Review of Alun Wyburn-Powell, Defectors and the Liberal Party, 1910-2010: A Study of Inter-Party Relations (Manchester University Press, 2012).
Review of David Dutton, A History of the Liberal Party Since 1900 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition, 2013).
Report of a Liberal Democrat Conference fringe meeting, September 2013, with Paddy Ashdown, Duncan Brack, John Curtice, Mark Pack and Julie Smith.
Review of A Flagship Borough: 25 years of a Liberal Democrat Sutton Council (Sutton Liberal Democrats, 2012).
Review of Chris Bowers, Nick Clegg: The Biography (Biteback, 2011; paperback edition, 2012) and Jasper Gerard, The Clegg Coup (Gibson Square, 2011).
Review of Paddy Ashdown, The Ashdown Diaries, Volume 1: 1988-1997 (Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, 2000).
Review of Mark D’Arcy & Rory Maclean, Nightmare! The Race to Become London’s Mayor (Politico’s Publishing, 2000).
Review of Garry Tregidga, The Liberal Party in South-West Britain since 1918: Political Decline, Dormancy and Rebirth (University of Exeter Press, 2000).
In 1995, John Dickie, Liberal Democrat councillor in Camden and Federal Executive member, quit the party and joined Labour. Neil Stockley interviewed him on his defection.
Following this year’s leadership election for the Liberal Democrats, Harriet Smith looks back to the party’s first such election.
Review of, 50 Years On: A History of the Association of Liberal Democrat Trade Unionists, 1947-97 (Association of Liberal Democrat Trade Unionists, 1997).
Liberal Democrat leadership candidates describe their historical inspirations.
Traces the story of the adoption and abandonment of the Liberal Democrat strategy of ‘equidistance’.
Report of LDHG meeting of September 1997 on the welfare state, with Frank Field MP and Nick Timmins.
A critical look at the Liberal Democrats’ performance in the 1997 election.
The Labour Party’s performance in the 1997 general election took even its most optimistic supporters by surprise. How does the result look when compared with previous election landslides? And what might happen now?
Liberal Democrat performance in the 2005 election.
The medium-term impact of the continuing SDP.
Liberal Democrat voting in the House of Commons 1992-2003.
The development of global cooperation between Liberal parties.
Report of Liberal Democrat History Group meeting of February 2003, with David Butler and Neil Stockley.
Original cartoons from the Social Democrat illustrate the wrangles over merger and the eclipse of the Owenite Continuing SDP.
Examination of the Liberal Democrat performance in the election of 7 June 2001, with lessons for the party’s future strategy.
Reviews of Andrew Geddes & Jonathan Tonge (eds.), Britain Decides The UK General Election 2005 (Palgrave, 2005), John Bartle & Anthony King (eds.), Britain at the Polls 2005 (CQ Press, 2005), Dennis Kavanagh & David Butler, The British General Election of 2005 (Palgrave, 2005), Pippa Norris & Christopher Wlezien (eds.), Britain Votes 2005 (Oxford University Press, 2005).
In November 2000 Paddy Ashdown published the first volume of his diaries. This article comprises two interviews with him on his period as leader.
Analysis of the outcomes of the local, Scottish and Welsh elections of May 2007. What do they mean for the Liberal Democrats?
Report of meeting of 4 February 2008, with Cllr Sir David Williams and Mike Tuffrey GLA.
Report of meeting of 7 March 2008, with Lord Goodhart, Lord Clement-Jones and Dr David Dutton.
Interview with Menzies Campbell, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2006-07, on his political career.
Report of the Liberal Democrat History Group meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference, Harrogate, 6 March 2009, with William Wallace and Sarah Ludford MEP. Chair Tony Little.
Personal recollection of the life of South Africa’s first anti-apartheid MP.
… and the Liberal Democat Whig tendency.
Notes on a political relationship.
Review of Kevin Hickson (ed.), The Political Thought of the Liberals and Liberal Democrats since 1945 (Manchester University Press, 2009).
Review of Tudor Jones, The Revival of British Liberalism – From Grimond to Clegg (Palgrave Macmillan, 2011).
with John Curtice, Andrew Russell and Chris Rennard
This year, 2013, marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Liberal Democrats. From near-annihilation to entry into government, the years since 1988 have been a roller-coaster ride for the party. Discuss which factors were important in the survival and success of the Liberal Democrats, and speculate about the future, with: Duncan Brack (Editor, Journal of Liberal […]
Between 1994 and 1999, Paddy Ashdown and Tony Blair led a process of collaboration between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party, with the aim not merely of defeating the Conservatives but of establishing clear common ground between the progressive parties in British politics. Some of the outcomes of this process – ‘the project’, in […]
The 2005 election saw the Liberal Democrats win a higher number of seats than at any time since 1923, and, for the second election in a row, gain both votes and seats after a period of Labour government – a historically unprecedented achievement. Yet many had hoped for an even better result, and the election […]
Winning local elections has been a keystone in Liberal (Democrat) success in the years since the adoption of the community politics strategy at the Eastbourne Assembly in 1970. There have been many spectacular advances across London, from the heartland of the south western boroughs to Southwark, Islington and more recently breakthroughs on Camden and Brent […]
The Liberal Party and the SDP were the most pro-European of the British political parties. So how has their successor party fared in European politics since merger in 1988? How has the party adapted to the wide range of liberal thought represented by our sister parties in ALDE and ELDR? Speakers: Graham Watson MEP (Leader […]
