Liberal Democrats

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UK political party of the centre, led since 2006 by Menzies Campbell (successor to Charles Kennedy). Britain's third main party, the Liberal Democrats are successors to the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, which merged in 1998 to form the Social and Liberal Democrats (SLD). The name Liberal Democrats was adopted in 1989. It is a progressive party, which supports closer integration within the European Union, constitutional reform (including proportional representation and regional government), and greater investment in state education and the National Health Service, financed by higher direct taxes. The party has strong libertarian and environmentalist wings. It won 62 seats at the 2005 general election – the best result for the Liberals and their successors for more than 70 years.

Under the leadership of Paddy Ashdown 1988–99, the Liberal Democrats became close allies of ‘New Labour’, which won power in 1997. Liberal Democrats were given seats by Prime Minister Tony Blair on a joint cabinet committee, which discussed constitutional issues, Europe, health, and education. From 1999, with Charles Kennedy as leader, relations with Labour remained cordial, but less close. On certain issues, such as government investment in education and the health service, the Liberal Democrats have moved, in many voters' minds, to the left of New Labour. At the 1997, 2001, and 2005 general elections, the Liberal Democrats benefited from anti-Conservative tactical voting by Labour supporters in marginal seats to return a larger than anticipated number of members of Parliament (MPs).

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