The Liberal Democrats is a centrist to centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that champions social liberalism, civil liberties, and constitutional reform. Active in the UK Parliament and local councils, its role centres on holding the government to account while advocating for proportional representation, environmental protection, and public service investment. The party was established in 1988 through the merger of the historic Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, later serving as a junior partner in the UK coalition government from 2010 to 2015.