The term ?Liberal Party' had been used by Prime Minister John Russell early on, but the 
identity of the party started from a coalition of Whigs and Radicals promoting free trade and 
reform.The Liberal Party in the beginning 
had a large traditional Whig element within it: however, through the leadership of William 
Gladstone, politicians with old Whig aristocratic tendencies diminished.The coalition drew along similar lines compared to the previous Whig party, favouring 
reform, personal liberty, and the reduction in the role of the monarchy and church.