Tag Archives: limehouse declaration

“It was a tough battle” – Shirley Williams on the birth of the SDP

Shirley Williams tells the story of the 1981 Gang of Four breakaway, which eventually led to the formation of the Liberal Democrats, in the first issue of AD LIB magazine, out next week.

“…we said, if we haven’t got anywhere else to go, we’ll create one.”

Those nascent views crystallised after the party’s 1981 Wembley conference which committed it to unilateral nuclear disarmament and withdrawal from the EEC and NATO. Within hours Williams, Owen and Rodgers were drawing up the plans which would lead to the creation of the SDP.

“The three of us met – not Roy, at that point –

Posted in News | Also tagged , , and | 11 Comments

Question: Big or small government? Answer: effective

One prominent member of Liberal Youth hits the nail on the head when she says ‘ frankly sick of all this I’m a social liberal so I’m a better Lib Demno it’s Orange Bookers that are real Lib Dems… we’re in the same party ffs.’

And the contrasting Economist correspondent missed the target by a mile when he wrote - following our last conference – that ‘the Liberal Democrats are still in denial about their innate dividedness.’

You see according to this correspondent – quoted again in The Week – he has had a brilliant insight: ‘You cannot be both for, and against, the Big State.’ But whilst his truism is logically …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , , and | 8 Comments



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  • User AvatarKeith Legg 19th Jun - 4:22pm
    @Roland - you only have to claim the benefit if you don't already get paid the State Pension. So since everybody has to claim the...
  • User AvatarAnthony Hawkes 19th Jun - 4:02pm
    My 19 year old son attended a meeting where Dr. Huppert was presenting evidence. He was very impressed and even said that he wished all...
  • User AvatarAl McIntosh 19th Jun - 4:02pm
    Those interested in more balanced coverage of the independence debate featuring Michael Moore can watch this Scotland Tonight special where the Yes Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon...
  • User AvatarRoland 19th Jun - 3:36pm
    @Anne & C.Lee FYI "The Government paid nearly £13m in winter fuel payments to UK pensioners living abroad last winter, figures show. ... after a...
  • User AvatarJohn 19th Jun - 3:29pm
    Definitely looks like a bit of mischief making. On the other hand, I don't see why our MPs voted against it - the motion was...
  • User AvatarRoland 19th Jun - 3:27pm
    "while my husband, who is still earning a reasonable amount, qualifies for Winter Fuel Allowance that we don’t need because he’s over 60." Interesting statement,...
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