Liberal Frustrations

Abstract

The Liberal party has consistently challenged the view that Britain has a two-party system. But when in 1974 the party system suddenly appeared at its most fragmented and unstable, the Liberals found that they were not the key group in British politics. There was now a third force of almost 40 MPs unattached to Conservative or Labour — a body of members large enough to have held the balance in all the parliaments since the war, except those of 1945, 1955, 1959 and 1966. However, this residue was divided between Liberals, Nationalists and Ulstermen. The Conservative/Labour hegemony in votes might be breaking down, but the liberals had not yet reaped a sizeable harvest of parliamentary seats. There was no clear majority in parliament, but there were others besides the Liberals who could determine the balance of power.