Talk:Liberal Party (UK, 1989)

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"The Liberal Party is strongly opposed to Britain's membership of the European Union and advocates withdrawal, something contradictory to the original position of the old Liberal Party."

Whilst the late 1950s-1980s Liberals supported the EU, this was not without dissenters. And going back to an earlier era, the Liberals were long the party of free trade, opposed to customs unions and common markets - indeed the party took itself out of office and into the real wilderness rather than support anything but free trade. Maybe someone with greater knowledge might want to expound on exactly what strain of liberalism this party follows? Timrollpickering 22:59, 1 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Oh, no. When the Liberals returned to power in 1859, Palmerston had retreated from the policy of unilateral free trade, and Cobden had come to believe in the use of commercial treaties in the service of international relations. Britain's reduction of tariffs in the 1840s had not been followed in other countries, to the chagrin and confusion of the Liberals; and, since that reduction had been achieved, the Liberals had other priorities. In 1860, the looming war with France was averted by an Anglo-French commercial treaty which, despite Gladstone and Cobden's spin that they had merely persuaded France of the benefits of reducing tariffs, was a clear case of reciprocity, with concessions on both sides. Britain and France used this commercial alliance to launch a network of treaties with, eventually, almost the whole of Western and central Europe, based on most-favoured-nation status and a Europe-wide maximum tariff (the "conventional" tariff). This network, effectively the first Common Market, lasted until 1892, and it was supported by the Liberals throughout that period. The Liberal ideal, of unilateral free trade, has long been tempered by both pragmatic and higher considerations. -- Gregg 01:34, 2 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I was thinking more of the Samuel/Sinclair years when the party opposed the introduction of tariffs and the Ottowa Agreement, leaving the National Government and a large section of the party (the Liberal Nationals) over the issue, and subsequently when later several prominent Liberals, including the leader Sinclair, gave statements which seemed to see the issue of international free trade as about the only thing separating them from Churchill's Conservative Party. Whilst not the classic era of the party (but the period with which I'm most familiar), it does provide a precedent for the original party taking a stand of principal (and arguably political suicide) on the matter. Timrollpickering 02:34, 11 Sep 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Date of Foundation.

Perhaps someone could provide more insight into the disputed date of foundation than I have? Matthew Platts 17:09, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

The dispute arises from the this Liberal Party claiming to be the same party as the original Liberal Party. If that is true then the older date should be used. If this is not true then 1988 should be used. In my opinion it is the latter date. Very few people outside the Liberal Party claim it to be the earlier date.--Davebesag 23:37, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

From vague recollection, part of the claim stems from an interpretation of the nature of the 1859-1988 Liberal Party. As I understand it, it was technically a federation of affiliating local associations. In 1988 the associations were free to make their own choice as whether to affiliate to the new Lib Dems or not and three branches chose not to. The Liberal Party seems to claim continuity on the argument that all the other branches left the federation and the remaining three constituted a rump. Everyone outside seems to consider that the federation as a whole dissolved itself. Does anyone know the full technical details on this? Timrollpickering 15:24, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

are thease guys for privatisation of the welfare state?

brit pat

[edit] Michael Meadowcroft

I have just created an article on Michael Meadowcroft. Additions and edits are welcome. Ground Zero | t 16:59, 21 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 2001 claim about Liverpool West Derby

Following discussion at Talk:Liverpool West Derby (UK Parliament constituency), I've modified the claim about them being "the only minor (that is, non-parliamentary) political party to be in second place in a Westminster election". --RFBailey 22:39, 19 February 2006 (UTC)