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They constitute themselves during
the Exclusion Crisis (unsuccessful attempt to prevent James Stuart fromsucceeding to the throne as James II). -
during Sir Robert Walpole’s long tenure
as “Prime Minister”. -
Mid-18th century: Party system comes into disrepute due to corruption, and the Tories are increasingly tainted by “Jacobitism” – alleged support for the exiled Stuarts. By the late 18th Century, most politicians in Britain view themselves as Whigs.
-
Polarisation in politics between liberal/radical and conservative views.
-
This opens up for a larger electorate and more well-organised
political parties. -
Liberal Whigs merges with the Peelites (former conservatives) and Radicals to form the Liberal Party.
-
A faction, opposing “Home Rule” for Ireland, secedes as the Liberal Unionist Party.
-
David Lloyd George takes over as PM after challenge to Asquith government. Liberal Party split between the two leaders.
A series of secessions follows, the party falling apart into the Coalition Liberals (supporters of Lloyd George) and the Independent Liberals, reunited in 1923. -
A faction forms the Liberal National Party, while another faction centred on Lloyd George and his family becomes the Independent Liberals (1931).
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-
Liberal Party steadily loses ground as Labour emerges as the
“radical alternative” to the Conservatives. -
New ground opens up as the Liberals in alliance with the new Social Democratic Party (1982-88) challenges, and almost equals Labour in electoral support.
-
The two parties merge to form the present-day Liberal Democrats. The new Liberal Party secedes. Paddy Ashdown is elected the Lib Dems’ first party leader.
A socially liberal political party supporting constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, environmentalism, human rights laws, banking reform and civil liberties. -
Former leaders : Gladstone, Asquith and Lloyd George.
During these times in government, the Liberals are credited with the Liberal Reforms, which saw the creation of the welfare state. -
the Liberal Democrats won 57 seats with 23% of the vote, making them the third-largest party in the House of Commons behind the Conservatives with 307 and Labour with 258.
Clegg becoming Deputy Prime Minister and other Liberal Democrats taking up ministerial positions.
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