David Steel

…whose relationship with Liberal leader David Steel proved to be considerably less harmonious than Jenkins’ had been. Aside from personal antipathies, the tension was caused partly by Owen’s desire to take economic and industrial policy further to the right and partly by the Liberals’ refusal to acknowledge Owen’s right to…

…Thorpe’s successor as party leader, David Steel (1976–88), the Liberals retained their position as a significant national force in British politics. In return for supporting the minority Labour government of James Callaghan, Steel was able to extract a number of concessions, including an agreement to consult the Liberals on legislation…