SDP-Liberal Alliance facts for kids

The S.D.P-Liberal Alliance was a special team-up between two political parties in the United Kingdom: the Social Democratic Party (often called the S.D.P) and the Liberal Party. They decided to work together to try and win elections and have a bigger say in how the country was run.

What Was the SDP-Liberal Alliance?

The S.D.P-Liberal Alliance was not a single new party at first. Instead, it was an agreement where the S.D.P and the Liberal Party promised to support each other. They wanted to combine their strengths to get more votes in national elections. This kind of team-up is called an "alliance."

Why Did They Team Up?

Political parties in the UK want to win a general election so they can form the government. The government makes important decisions for the country. Both the S.D.P and the Liberal Party were smaller parties on their own. They hoped that by working together, they would be strong enough to challenge the two main parties at the time. This way, they could have a better chance to win seats in Parliament.

What Happened Next?

The Alliance took part in two big national elections: the 1983 UK general election and the 1987 UK general election. In both elections, they did quite well with voters. They managed to get about a quarter (25%) of all the votes cast. Even though they got many votes, the way the UK election system works meant they didn't win many seats in Parliament. This made it hard for them to form a government.

After these elections, the leaders of both parties thought about their future. In 1988, they decided it would be better to become one single party. So, the S.D.P and the Liberal Party officially joined together. They formed a brand new political party called the Liberal Democrats. This new party continued the ideas and goals of the Alliance.

Images for kids

• 

  SDP–Liberal Alliance electoral logo in 1983