Whig, in Scottish vernacular: assassin or thief originally referring to the radical faction of the Scottish Covenanters, which called themselves the Kirk Party. In the events of the →Exclusion Bill crisis of 1678-1681 the term came to stand for the supporters of the exclusion of →James II. Whig politics favoured the Protestant succession, a stronger role of parliament, the interests of wealthy merchants and religious →dissenters and a political alliance with the (Reformed) Netherlands against against (Catholic) France. →Wikipedia