For the study of Liberal, SDP and Issue 61 / Winter 2008–09 / £7.00 Liberal Democrat history Journal of LiberalHI ST O R Y Asquith assessed Lawrence Goldman Asquith and the Liberal legacy A hundred years on Iain Sharpe Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith An uneasy political partnership David Dutton The Glyndŵr manuscripts Denbighshire Liberals in the 1920s and ’30s Peter Dorey ‘Asking too much and offering too little’? The Con–Lib coalition talks of 1974 Liberal Democrat History Group Liberal history quiz Test your knowledge Liberal Democrat History Group 2 Journal of Liberal History 61 Winter 2008–09 Journal of Liberal History Issue 61: Winter 2008–09 The Journal of Liberal History is published quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group. ISSN 1479-9642 Asquith and the Liberal legacy 4 Editor: Duncan Brack In a lecture given to mark the centenary of the formation of Asquith’s Deputy Editor: Tom Kiehl administration, Lawrence Goldman assesses his record. Assistant Editor: Cerise Thelwall Biographies Editor: Robert Ingham Reviews Editor: Dr Eugenio Biagini Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith 12 Contributing Editors: Graham Lippiatt, Tony Little, Iain Sharpe analyses the uneasy political partnership between the two Liberal York Membery leaders. Patrons Liberal history quiz 2008 19 Dr Eugenio Biagini; Professor Michael Freeden; The questions … Professor John Vincent Editorial Board The Glyndŵr manuscripts 20 Dr Malcolm Baines; Dr Roy Douglas; Dr Barry Doyle; Dr David Dutton uses the Glyndŵr collection at the Denbighshire Record Office David Dutton; Professor David Gowland; Dr Richard to throw light on the fortunes of the local Liberal Party in the 1920s and ’30s. Grayson; Dr Michael Hart; Peter Hellyer; Ian Hunter; Dr J. Graham Jones; Tony Little; Professor Ian Machin; Dr Letters to the Editor 26 Mark Pack; Dr Ian Packer; Dr John Powell; Ed Randall; Jaime Reynolds; Dr Andrew Russell; Iain Sharpe Ireland’s Liberal MPs (Berkley Farr); News Chronicle (York Membery); Campbell as leader (Michael Meadowcroft); Liberal Foots (John Howe). Editorial/Correspondence Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles, and Liberal history quiz 2008 27 book reviews – are invited. The Journal is a refereed … and the answers. publication; all articles submitted will be reviewed. Contributions should be sent to: ‘Asking too much and offering too little’? 28 Duncan Brack (Editor) The Conservative–Liberal coalition talks of 1–4 March 1974, analysed by Peter 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ Dorey. email: [email protected] All articles copyright © Journal of Liberal History. Report: Torrington ’58 – Liberal survival and 38 Advertisements revival, 1945–79 Full page £100; half page £60; quarter page £35. 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The Cover design concept: Lynne Featherstone Group organises discussion meetings and produces the Journal of Liberal History and other Published by the Liberal Democrat History Group, c/o occasional publications. 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ For more information, including historical commentaries, details of publications, back issues Printed by Kall-Kwik, of the Journal, and archive and other research sources, see our website at: 18 Colville Road, London W3 8BL www.liberalhistory.org.uk. December 2008 Chair: Tony Little Honorary President: Lord Wallace of Saltaire Journal of Liberal History 61 Winter 2008–09 3 ASQUITH AND THE LIBERal LEgaCY A hundred years ago, in April 1908, Herbert Henry Asquith became Prime Minister. In this lecture, given in the Convocation House, Oxford, on 15 May 2008 to mark the centenary of the formation of Asquith’s administration, Lawrence Goldman assesses Asquith’s record. If we admire Asquith’s constitutional and reforming legacies from the Edwardian years, we must likewise recognise the role that he played in a third and less benign bequest to the future, which was to have an enduring impact on the politics of the century to come: the decline of Asquith as Prime the Liberal Party. Minister, 1911 4 Journal of Liberal History 61 Winter 2008–09 ASQUITH AND THE LIBERal LEgaCY ne hundred years well as some politicians, had Edwardian progressivism that he ago, on 8 April already recognised the need to tried to perpetuate throughout 1908, Herber t support the aged poor. But, in his own political career. Jenkins’ Henr y Asquith the spring of 1908, the introduc- discretion was so complete that, kissed hands in tion of a new type of ‘outdoor at the end of his account, he could Othe King’s hotel room in Biar- relief’, a national benefit paid not bring himself to sum up and ritz where Edward VII was then without contribution, broke all pass judgement on Asquith’s life holidaying. Asquith had trav- precedent. No single measure as whole. Jenkins gave Asquith elled across France alone and better exemplifies the Edward- the benefit of the doubt at every incognito to meet the King and ian Liberal legacy to us today; in turn; and did not discuss, least of receive his commission to form the spring of 1908 we may, with- all question, the motives under- a government.1 That the King out exaggeration, note the ori- lying Asquith’s choices.2 required this of his next Prime gins of what came to be called The entry on Asquith in the Minister, and had not thought it the welfare state, and Asquith’s third of the twentieth-century necessary to return to London to role in that beginning. Asquith’s Asquith has supplements of the Dictionary assist in the creation of the new promotion from 11 to 10 Down- of National Biography was writ- ministr y, was to become the sub- ing Street likewise had political been well ten by another of his admirers, ject of adverse comment. On his and personal consequences: it in this case his personal friend J. return to London, on 29 April, was left to the new Chancellor, served by his A. Spender, the notable Liberal the parliamentary Liberal Party David Lloyd George, to intro- major biog- journalist and editor of the West- endorsed Asquith’s leadership. duce and administer old-age minster Gazette, among other This was the first time in British pensions, and thus to reap the raphers who papers.3 Prior to the publication political history that a political social and electoral kudos that of this entry, Spender had col- party had ratified the monarch’s naturally followed. The old-age have all, in laborated with Asquith’s young- choice in this manner. He went pension rapidly became known est son, Cyril, in a generous on to hold the office of Prime as ‘the Lloyd George’, not ‘the their ways, biographical tribute to Asquith.4 Minister for nearly nine years, Asquith’. This was a foretaste of appreciated The author, whose life also fig- the longest continuous tenure the later confusion and rivalry ures in the Oxford Dictionary of since Lord Liverpool at the end between the two men that was his political National Biography, is described of the Napoleonic Wars. to compromise them both and as having been ‘an ever depend- On 7 May 1908, Asquith came to imprison British Liber- style and able ministerial loyalist’ when introduced the budget he had alism, at its moment of crisis, in Asquith was in power, and been preparing that spring as a cage of their joint making. admired had, like Asquith, been a Lib- Chancellor of the Exchequer. Asquith has been well served his achieve- eral Imperialist in the 1890s. 5 It was in fact his third and most by his major biographers who Later, Spender’s position at the momentous budget, including have all, in their ways, appre- ments, while Westminster Gazette was under- provision for old-age pensions ciated his political style and mined by an attempt, traceable – non-contributory weekly pay- admired his achievements, while passing over to Lloyd George, to have him ments, financed by general taxa- passing over his weaknesses and removed from the editor’s chair. tion, for those over seventy years failings. In Roy Jenkins, Asquith his weak- The plot failed, only reinforcing of age. The idea was hardly new had a biographer who shared his nesses and Spender’s complete