Pacts and Alliances: 1976–1984

Abstract

The election of David Steel in July 1976 brought to an end the unhappy final saga of the Thorpe era. But it did not change the fundamental problems facing the party, in particular its strategy to avoid being relegated again to the sidelines of British politics. When Steel made his first conference speech as party leader he effectively also launched his own beliefs in Liberal strategy — namely the politics of co-operation. Not that, in many ways the leadership battle had been one of strategies; rather it was one of style marked as the Annual Register noted, by unedifying personal exchanges. The victor, Steel, had been the youngest MP in the House when returned for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles in the 1965 by-election. By profession a journalist and broadcaster, in political terms he was firmly in the left of centre Grimond mould. He was equally convinced that the Liberal Party could only lever its way to power by working with politicians of other parties in order to achieve a breakthrough on to the political stage. In fact David Steel’s enthusiasm to take the Liberal Party into a co-operation strategy with other politicians was to be tested at an earlier moment than could have been expected. By early 1977 the Callaghan Administration was in dire straits. On 23 March an opposition motion of non-confidence was due for debate.