In UK politics, a loose union 1981-87 formed
by the Liberal Party and Social Democratic
Party (SDP) for electoral purposes. The
Alliance was set up soon after the formation
of the SDP, and involved a joint manifesto at
national elections and the apportionment of
constituencies in equal numbers to Liberal
and SDP candidates. The difficulties of
presenting two separate parties to the
electorate as if they were one proved
insurmountable, and after the Alliance's poor
showing in the 1987 general election the
majority of the SDP voted to merge with the
Liberals to form the Social and Liberal
Democrats.