ABSTRACT
An Alliance of the Liberal Party and Social Democratic Party (SDP) was formed in September 1981 following the creation of the SDP in March 1981 and the acceptance by both parties of the principle of an alliance at their conferences. The Alliance agreed to an equal share-out of seats for local and parliamentary elections and campaigned under a joint manifesto in both the 1983 and 1987 General Elections. In addition, Alliance groups were formed on many local councils, following local election successes. At one point in 1981 the Alliance had an opinion poll rating of over 40 per cent, but obtained only 26 per cent and 24 per cent respectively in the two General Elections of 1983 and 1987 in spite of an impressive string of by-election victories. Calls for a merger of the two parties immediately following the 1987 election and votes in favour of merger by the Liberals and the SDP at special conferences early in 1988 terminated the Alliance and created a new party, the Social and Liberal Democrats.
