Liberal Party

Liberal Party, British political party, powerful from about 1832 to 1922. Originating in the Whig party, the Liberals were backed by the industrial owners and were associated with such policies as free trade, laissez-faire economics, and religious liberty, while initially opposing most social legislation. The Liberal party enjoyed its golden age under the prime ministers Gladstone, Asquith, and Lloyd George. In the 1920s it was supplanted by the Labour party as the chief opposition to the Conservative party, and by the 1930s it became a relatively small third party attracting about 10% of the vote nationally. In 1981 the party formed an alliance with the new Social Democratic party, but its strength has not substantially increased.