-
The 2 political parties Whigs and Tories made their appearance.
They constitute themselves during
the Exclusion Crisis (unsuccessful attempt to prevent James Stuart fromsucceeding to the throne as James II). -
Period: to
Whigs dominate politics
during Sir Robert Walpole’s long tenure
as “Prime Minister”. -
The party system has been “dissolved”.
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. -
Period: to
PM William Pitt and his Cabinet are branded “Tories” for their conservatism.
Polarisation in politics between liberal/radical and conservative views. -
Liberal Whigs under the Earl Grey push through reform of the electoral system.
This opens up for a larger electorate and more well-organised
political parties. -
Formation of the Liberal Party
Liberal Whigs merges with the Peelites (former conservatives) and Radicals to form the Liberal Party. -
Formation of the Liberal Unionist Party
A faction, opposing “Home Rule” for Ireland, secedes as the Liberal Unionist Party. -
PM : David Loyd George
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. -
Formation of 2 parties: the Lliberal National Party and the Independent Liberals.
A faction forms the Liberal National Party, while another faction centred on Lloyd George and his family becomes the Independent Liberals (1931). -
Lloyd George’s Independent Liberals rejoin with the rest of the Liberal Party.
-
Period: to
Labour appears the new alternative against Consevatives.
Liberal Party steadily loses ground as Labour emerges as the
“radical alternative” to the Conservatives. -
Period: to
the Liberals alliance with the new Social Democratic Party (1982-88)
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 Liberal Democrats formed itself as a merger between the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.
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. -
Nick Glegg was elected Leader of the party
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. -
2010 General election : A coalition Government / N. Gleg, D. Cameron.
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.
