100374

The Liberał Party

The Liberał Party, which traces its origins to tlie 18^th centiiry Whigs, merged with tlie new Social Democratic Party in 1988 to become the Liberał Democrats.

-    They seek to attract the votes of the middle ground between Laboiir and tlie Conservatives.

This party is less tied to either capitalist or imion interests, and is free to offer morę radical policies. The Liberał Party is strongly associated with policies of better education, eiwironmental protection and constitntional reform to guarantee individual freedom. Tłiey support tlie adoption of proportional representation at elections.

Otłier parties in Great Britain:

Ulster Unionists (a Protestant Northern Irish Party), who largeiy campaign on

the question of Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK.

-    The Social Democratic and Labour Party (a moderate Roman Catholic

Northern Irish Party).

Sinn Fein (a Republican Northern Irish party, whose members are elected to the UK parliament but do not actually take their seats as they do not recognise its contro! of Northern Ireland).

-    The Scottish Nationalist Party which demands independence for Scotland. Plaid Cymru which makes similar demands for Wales.

There are all manner of similar fringe parties that have no representation in

Parliament. The most prominent examples are the Socialist Workcrs Party (SWP) which advocates a socialist society on the principles of Marx and Trotsky, and the Green Party włiich champions environmental policies.