On This Day

17 September 1987

The Liberal Party conference votes to begin merger negotiations with the SDP

Following a disappointing result in the 1987 General Election, the Liberal Party conference meeting in Harrogate votes by 998 votes to 21 in favour of merger with Social Democratic Party and elects a 17 person team to begin negotations with the SDP. After long and tortuous negotiations, the Party at a special meeting in Blackpool on 23 January 1988 votes to approve the merger.