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23/Summer 1999 Journal of Issue 23 / Summer 1999 / £3.50 Liberal DemocratHISTORY ? Leading the Liberals Jackie Ballard, Malcolm Bruce, Simon Hughes, Charles Kennedy, David Rendel Old Heroes for a New Leader Leadership candidates’ favourite historical figures Robert Ingham Leadership Contests of the Past Jim Thorne Lloyd George and the Conservative Party Roy Jenkins Gladstone and Books The 1998 Gladstone Lecture Liberal Democrat History Group Issue 23: Summer 1999 The Journal of 2 Liberal Leaderships Liberal Democrat Robert Ingham looks at Liberal contests of the past. History 5 Old Heroes for a New Leader The Journal of Liberal Democrat Lib Dem leadership candidates’ historical inspirations. History is published quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group. 9 Lloyd George and the Conservative Party Lessons of the past for the ‘Third Way’? By Jim Thorne. ISSN 1463-6557 13 Gladstone and Books Editorial/Correspondence Gladstone Lecture 1998: Lord Jenkins of Hillhead. Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles, and book reviews – are 16 Mill on Limited Liability Partnerships invited, preferably on disc or by email. J. S. Mill on a topical issue: by Robert Ingham. The Journal is a refereed publication; 17 Report: Liberalism and Nationalism all articles submitted will be reviewed. Fringe meeting, 5 March, with Donald Gorrie MP and Contributions should be sent to: Duncan Brack (Editor) Gordon Lishman. Report by Duncan Brack. Flat 9, 6 Hopton Road, London SW16 2EQ. 18 Biography: William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp email: [email protected]. David Dutton All articles copyright © their authors. 20 Archives: University of Hull Advertisements Brian Dyson Adverts from relevant organisations 22 Review: The Jeremy Thorpe Story and publications are welcome; please contact the Editor for rates. Thorpe: In My Own Time ; Freeman and Penrose: Rinkagate: the rise and fall of Jeremy Thorpe ; ‘Jeremy Thorpe’ in Parris, Subscriptions/Membership Great Parliamentary Scandals. Reviewed by Robert Ingham. An annual subscription to the Journal 24 Review: Landowner and Minister of Liberal Democrat History costs £10.00 (£5.00 unwaged rate; add Hawkins and Powell (eds): The Journal of John Wodehouse, £5.00 for overseas subscribers); this First Earl Kimberley,1862–1902. Reviewed by Tony Little includes membership of the History Group unless you inform us otherwise. 25 Review: Politics on TV Send a cheque (payable to ‘Liberal PPBs: The Greatest Hits. Reviewed by Mark Pack. Democrat History Group’) to: Patrick Mitchell, 6 Palfrey Place, 27 Review: The ‘New Liberalism’ London SW8 1PA; Bernstein: Liberalism and Liberal Politics in Edwardian email: [email protected] England. Reviewed by Matthew Roberts. The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and Published by research of historical topics, particularly those relating to the histories of the Liberal Democrat History Group, Liberal Democrats, Liberal Party and the SDP. The Group organises c/o Flat 9, 6 Hopton Road, discussion meetings and publishes the quarterly Journal of Liberal London SW16 2EQ. Democrat History and other occasional publications. For more information, including details of publications, back issues of the Printed by Kall-Kwik, Journal, tape records of meetings, Mediawatch, Thesiswatch and Research 426 Chiswick High Road, in Progress services, see our web site: www.dbrack.dircon.co.uk/ldhg. London W4 5TF. Hon President: Earl Russell. Chair: Graham Lippiatt. July 1999 2 journal of liberal democrat history 23: summer 1999 Liberal Leaderships As the Liberal Democrats enter their second leadership context, Robert Ingham looks at contests of the past. As Liberal Democrats consider who will lead their draw in turn, while the others discussed his suit- ability. At least one of the MPs who was well party into the next century, it is worth looking back qualified for the office, Hopkin Morris, refused at the ways in which Liberal Party leaders were to allow his name to be considered in this man- ner. But at least the selection was made, and on selected and elected in the post-war period. The August they were able to announce that Clem- Liberal Party had four post- leaders – Clement ent Davies had been chosen Chairman. Davies, Jo Grimond, Jeremy Thorpe and David Steel Davies’ position was thus reminiscent of Sir – and each emerged in a different way. Donald MacLean, who chaired the Liberal Par- liamentary Party during the Parliament, while being overshadowed by Lloyd George, Clement Davies out of the party but Prime Minister, and H. H. Asquith, out of Parliament but still regarded as Sir Archibald Sinclair’s unexpected defeat in the leader of the Wee Frees. Unlike Asquith, how- general election left the Liberal Party be- ever, Sinclair was not able to regain his place reft of leadership in the House of Commons. in the House of Commons. Davies was re- Sinclair’s rapid return to the House was widely elected as Chairman in and then again in expected in Liberal circles, particularly because and . Gandar Dower’s refusal to re- Gandar Dower, the Tory victor in Caithness & sign his seat in seemed to establish Davies Sutherland, had promised to resign his seat on as the fully-fledged Liberal leader, and his po- the defeat of Japan. Consequently, a chairman sition was enhanced by the failure of an at- of the Liberal MPs for just one session of Par- tempt to replace him with Megan Lloyd liament was sought. George in . Davies’ own view was that his Roy Douglas describes the appointment of later ‘re-elections’ were token confirmations of Clement Davies in the following way: the decision. Sir Archibald Sinclair and some of his closest associates met to discuss the question. Sinclair and Sir Percy Harris [Liberal Chief Whip prior Jo Grimond to his defeat in ] first approached Gwilym Two interpretations of Jo Grimond’s ascension Lloyd George, but he refused, largely because to the Liberal leadership have been offered. he could not afford the incidental expenses Douglas contends that: which the office would entail. He was also offered – and also refused – the Chairman- The retirement of Winston Churchill from the ship of the Liberal National Party about the Conservative leadership, and of Clement Attlee same time. When the new House met, he was from the Labour leadership, led to a certain offered a place on the Opposition front bench movement for the replacement of Clement by Winston Churchill. Gwilym Lloyd George Davies by a younger Chairman of the Liberal replied that he would only sit as a Liberal. MPs. This movement was not perceptible to Churchill’s reply was characteristic: ‘And what the rank-and-file of the party, who were well the hell else should you sit as?’ But Liberals satisfied, but was noticeable among some of the soon came to the conclusion that he was ef- more senior members. At the Assembly, fectively supporting the Conservatives. to the real sorrow of many delegates, Clement Thus the selection of the Chairman was left Davies resigned his office … The choice of a to the Liberal MPs, without the benefit of the successor was predetermined. One of the five advice of senior members of the party. The re- remaining Liberal MPs, Sir Rhys Hopkin Mor- maining MPs knew little of each other’s capa- ris, was Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means, bilities, and several of them had not even met which debarred him from active party work. before the election. They adopted the remark- Two others, Donald Wade and Arthur Holt, able expedient of asking each member to with- could not hope to hold their seats if the Con- journal of liberal democrat history 23: summer 1999 3 servatives chose to oppose them, Davies’ and Grimond’s selections. all expressed their disquiet before the and dependence of this kind would On this occasion, the Liberal MPs Thorpe ballot. This led to pressure be highly embarrassing for the Lib- decided to hold a ballot amongst for a change to the system by which eral Party. A fourth MP, Roderic themselves. Controversially, the elec- Liberal leaders would be elected in Bowen, was too busy with his le- tion was scheduled for the day fol- future. The contest between David gal practice. This only left one man: lowing Grimond’s formal resigna- Steel and John Pardoe following Jo Grimond, the Chief Whip. On November he was there- tion, January , decided by a Thorpe’s resignation in was set- fore elected Chairman of the Lib- vote of eight to four. tled by a weighted one-member eral MPs. Thorpe won six votes, to three one-vote system, the most extensive for Hooson and three for Lubbock. ballot then held for the leadership Douglas is surely right in describing Wainwright had not allowed his of a national party. Some , Lib- Grimond as the only viable alterna- name to go forward for the election. eral members expressed their pref- tive leader to Davies, but understates Although the ballot was secret, the erences at constituency level, with the extent to which the party rank- details were leaked to the Guardian those votes being converted into ‘na- and-file were aware of, and supported, and published on January . tional votes’ by a complicated moves to replace Davies. Grimond Thorpe was backed by his fellow weighting system. This generated a had starred at the Assembly, West Country MPs, Peter Bessell and national result of , ‘votes’ for when Davies had been too ill to at- John Pardoe, as well as by David Steel and , ‘votes’ for Pardoe. tend. Speculation was rife in news- Steel, Jo Grimond and James The SDP went further in adopt- papers, including the Guardian and Davidson. Lubbock was backed by ing a straightforward one-member News Chronicle, in the run-up to the Michael Winstanley and Richard one-vote system. The same system Assembly, that Davies would Wainwright; Hooson by Alistair was used in the Liberal Democrats soon resign.
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