Leader of Liberal Democrats thumb|Ashdown in Chippenham during the 1992 general election campaign When the Liberal Party merged in 1988 with the Social Democrats to form the Social and Liberal Democrats (their name shortened in 1989 to "Liberal Democrats"), he was elected as the new party's leader and made a Privy Councillor in January 1989.
leader of liberal democrats thumb|ashdown in chippenham during the 1992 general election campaign when the liberal party merged in 1988 with the social democrats to form the social and liberal democrats (their name shortened in 1989 to "liberal democrats") he was elected as the new party's leader and made a privy councillor in january 1989