About the Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat History and Values

Liberalism had its origins in the English Civil War and the struggle between democracy and authoritarian tendencies, but the Liberal Party as such came into existence in 1859. The party’s formation was triggered to some extent by the Repeal of the Corn Laws, which were regarded as a protectionist measure which kept food prices artificially high. Support for free trade became an important part of Liberal policy for much of the 19th and 20th Centuries. In its current form, the Liberal Democrat Party came into existence following a merger between the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party in 1988. There’s a more detailed account of the party’s history, its electoral fortunes and the contribution it has made to social and economic progress here.

As a party we have s clear set of values which are laid out in our Constitution. The first paragraph describes our approach:

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives.

Preamble to the LIberal Democrat Constitution