History

Journal articles

Local Liberal history

Review of Martin Kyrle, The Liberals in Hampshire – a Part(l)y History. Part 5, Eastleigh 1981–90: Control! (Sarsen Press, 2022)

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Events

Liberals in local government 1967 – 2017

The Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC) was founded, as the Association of Liberal Councillors, fifty years ago. At this meeting, organised in conjunction with ALDC, we celebrate its 50th anniversary and discuss the role of Liberals and Liberal Democrats in local government. What has the party achieved in local government? To what extent has it taken a distinctively liberal approach?

Speakers: Cllr Sara Bedford (Leader, Three Rivers District Council), Cllr Ruth Dombey (Leader, Sutton Council), Lord Tony Greaves (long-serving councillor, Pendle Borough Council), Cllr Richard Kemp (Leader, Liberal Democrats on Liverpool City Council), Baroness Kath Pinnock (Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, former Leader of Kirklees Council) and Matt Cole (University of Birmingham). Chair: Lord Andrew Stunell (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Communities and Local Government, 2010–12).

This meeting is a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth; a conference pass will be required for access.

Liberalism in the West Country

The West Country has a special place in the Liberal tradition. Home to Isaac Foot and his sons, Thorpe, Penhaligon, Pardoe … For much of the post-war period, the Liberal Party‘s parliamentary representation rested largely on the South West English MPs, along with their colleagues in the rest of the “Celtic fringe”.

Michael Steed (University of Kent) and Adrian Lee (University of Plymouth University), discussed the survival and strength of Liberalism in the West Country, at a meeting in the city that was the stronghold of the Foot dynasty.