Inspired by the political upheaval in many of our political parties after the Brexit vote, we’ve been looking this summer at some historic party splits. In today’s blog we move into the 20th century, and the personal and political rivalry between two Liberal Prime Ministers that pulled their party apart…
At the declaration of war in August 1914, Herbert Asquith had been Liberal Prime Minister for six years. Together with his ‘fiery’ Chancellor, David Lloyd George, his government had passed the ‘People’s Budget’, introduced old age pensions and had reformed the House of Lords, in spite of troubles over Irish Home Rule, industrial unrest and electoral reform (in particular the campaign for votes for women). The government’s two leading figures were very different characters: Asquith the accomplished legislator, Lloyd George the populist, radical Welshman. By the end of the war, Lloyd George was Prime Minister leading a coalition…
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Utopia, you are standing in it! 
Aug 31, 2016 @ 21:33:22
to be fair Lloyd George ended the best War PM the UK ever had whereas Asquith struggled to make a decision.
LG was such a radical as Chancellor he followed classical economics to the letter. \
He di it again as PM/ It is the major reason why the UK’s GDP per capita fell by 1$ between the wars.
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Aug 31, 2016 @ 23:33:26
Lloyd George is a bit of a gap in my education. The last thing I read about him was a an excellent review of the biography of his mistress and that he was a randy old goat.
He clearly was successful in the First World War and played a key intervention in bringing down Chamberlain in the 2nd.
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Sep 01, 2016 @ 11:19:35
Yes he speech to end Chamberlain as PM was the last time he made a significant speech in Parliament and it meant his old mate became PM.
He couldn’t be successful these days given his adultery.
He was also much more successful than Conservatives in getting money for honours as well.
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Sep 01, 2016 @ 11:32:41
In what were far more prudish times, the shenanigans of politicians in the bedroom were simply not reported on.
Today when we have much more liberal attitudes, the occasional politician is crucified for his marriage comes an end or for otherwise going over the side.
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