The Liberal Party

Question 1

When were the Lib Dems formed and how?

Answer 1

• 1988

- merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democrats Party (SDP)

Question 2

Who were the ‘Gang of Four’?

Answer 2

• Roy Jenkins
• David Owen
• Bill Rogers
• Shirley Williams

Question 3

How did the gang of four come to be ?

Answer 3

They left the Labour Party after the 1979 defeat under moderate James Callaghan causing the party to be led by hardline left wingers

Question 4

What party did the Gang of Four begin?

Answer 4

the SDP liberal alliance in 1983

Question 5

How many votes and seats did the SDP liberal alliance get ?

Answer 5

• 26% of the vote

- only 23 seats

Question 6

What caused the Liberal Party to ally with the SDP liberal alliance?

Answer 6

-defeat in 1987 they merged in 1988 and renamed themselves 1989 , Paddy Ashdown as leader

Question 7

What are the key points of Classical liberalism? (4)

Answer 7

-Minimal state intervention
-freedom
-tolerance and equality
Self made and self improvement

Question 8

Which party took classical liberal key points? What were they called?

Answer 8

New Right under MT

-Neo-liberals

Question 9

Why is there ‘New’ or ‘Progressive’ liberalism? (5)

Answer 9

realisation that without regulation from the government abuses would occur

• The market could not be allowed to go unchecked
• Self help would not be enough
• State provision of schools and hospitals
• Pensions and unemployment benefit provided

Question 10

Who put forward the ideas of progressive liberalism?

Answer 10

Writers such as T.H Green

• John Maynard Keynes
• William Beverage (mixed economy +Welfare state post war years )

Question 11

What did progressive liberalists believe? (4)

Answer 11

• Individual rights
• Mixed economy
• State provison (schools &hosptials)
• Foundation of second half of the 20th century liberal parties

Question 12

What is the structure in policy formulation ?

Answer 12

-Federal, comprising English, Scottish and Welsh state parties

Question 13

What is the bi-annual federal conference?

Answer 13

The supreme policy making body in the party

Question 14

What does the bi-annial federal conference do in terms of policy formulation ?

Answer 14

Deals with policy proposals from the federal policy committee, state, regional and local parties

Question 15

Does the party leader have much control over policy formulation?

Answer 15

Yes, a good deal of control over the federal policy committee.

Question 16

What is the system to select party leaders? (4)

Answer 16

• Most democratic
• STV system using OMOV
• Those wishing to stand have to be proposed ad seconded by fellow MP’s
• Must be nominated by at least 200 members from at least 20 different local parties

Question 17

What writers put forward the fact that without regulation abuses could occur?

Answer 17

T.H Green

L.T Hobhouse

Question 18

Who provided the basis for a mixed economy and welfare state? (2)

Answer 18

• William Beveridge

- John Maynard Keynes

Question 19

What percentage of the popular vote did the Liberal Democrats win in the 2010 general election?

Answer 19

23%