The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of historical topics, particularly those relating to the British Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, the Liberal Party and the SDP, and of liberalism more broadly.

Old heroes for a new leader

The candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP and Chris Huhne MP, have chosen their historical heroes.

As we have done in each of the last two leadership elections, we asked them to write a short piece on their favourite historical figure or figures the ones they felt had influenced their own political beliefs most, and why they had proved important and relevant. Their replies are posted here. Their heroes? Vaclav Havel, David Lloyd George and Harry Willcock.

John Stuart Mill voted greatest Liberal in history

Liberal Democrats have voted for the philosopher John Stuart Mill as the greatest British Liberal in history.

Mill (1806-73), a philosopher, economist, journalist, political writer, social reformer, and, briefly, Liberal MP, is one of the most famous figures in the pantheon of Liberal theorists. His masterpiece, On Liberty, emphatically vindicated individual moral autonomy, and celebrated the importance of originality and dissent; it is the symbol of office of the President of the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat delegates at the party's autumn conference in Brighton, together with subscribers to the Journal of Liberal History, took part in the poll, which ended at the Liberal Democrat History Group's fringe meeting on the last night of conference.

Click here for more details of the contest, including information on the other candidates.


Activities

The Liberal Democrat History Group aims to appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of British Liberalism, whether academics, party activists or spare-time students of political history. We:

- Publish the quarterly Journal of Liberal History, containing articles, book reviews, biographies, and meeting reports

- Publish books, including the Dictionary of Liberal Thought, Dictionary of Liberal Biography, the Dictionary of Liberal Quotations and Great Liberal Speeches

- Organise discussion meetings, both in London and as fringe meetings at Liberal Democrat conferences

- Make resources available to students of Liberal history, including news of research in progress and guides to archive sources (see the items listed under 'Research resources' on the left-hand menu)

- Provide a concise history of the Liberal Democrats and its predecessor parties, along with a more extensive set of historical articles and biographies - the Liberal History Online project, available through the 'History' section of this website

Use the left-hand menu to navigate to different types of content, and the menu on bar at the top to see a selection of all content on the site sorted according to period, theme or person.