Liberal Democrats

• Orange Book Liberals (classical liberals)

  Influenced by neoliberalism - support a minimal government

  Endorse Thatcherite economic policies
• Social liberals

  Progressive liberalism

  Reject Thatcherite policies - there should be government spending to help the economy

  Influenced by Keynes and Beveridge
• Vince Cable - Orange Book Liberal

  • Opposed Brexit
  • Supported Brown's fiscal policies
  • Rejected cutting / abolishing tuition fees
  • Best electoral success for the Lib Dems - 15 seats
• Jo Swinson

  • Wanted to revoke Article 50
  • Claimed to be prepared to use nuclear weapons if she was PM - claimed it was pointless having a nuclear deterrent if it wasn't to be used
  • Lost her seat in 2019 election
• Ed Davey - Orange Book Liberal

  • Wanted to prevent a no deal Brexit
  • Reduce carbon emissions - focus on climate change and the environment
  • Conservative coalition - Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
• Tim Farron - Social Liberal

  • Against homosexuality due to religion but accepted it as a progressive liberal
  • Opposed tuition fee increase
  • Supported legalising marijuana and cannabis - a medical issue rather than a legal one
  • Supportive of EU membership despite being somewhat eurosceptic and would not have followed through with triggering Article 50 had the Lib Dems won the election
• Liberal Democrats have a different party in England, Wales, and Scotland, but they are all part of the same party in Northern Ireland
• Most funding comes from small donations from individual benefactors but they do raise a small amount from memberships