liBERAL paRTY ColoURS the early 1950s when the party Lady Megan no confidence brought following 32 Michael Meadowcroft, b. 1942: Executive was discussing the the decisive British defeat of the Liberal MP for Leeds West 1983–87. matter. The rivalry and antipathy thundered Revolutionary War at the battle of 33 http://www.bramley.demon.co.uk/ between the left-wing Lady Megan Yorktown. liberal.html Lloyd George46 and the more that she 17 Leslie Mitchell, The Whig World: 34 Information to the author from traditional Lady Violet Bonham 1760–1837 (Hambledon Continuum, Michael Meadowcroft, 23 Mar. 2012. Carter was well known. After didn’t care 2005), p. 4. 35 The Times, 13 Oct. 1964, p. 17. going through a number of options 18 Ibid., p. 13. 36 Information to the author from Lady Megan thundered that she what colour 19 Mark Raymond Bonham Carter Michael Meadowcroft, 6 Mar. 2012. didn’t care what colour the party the party (Baron Bonham-Carter), 1922–1994, 37 Information to the author from fought in – as long as it wasn’t grandson of Liberal prime minister Michael Steed, 6 Mar. 2012. violet. fought in – H. H. Asquith. 38 Block, Source Book, p. 78. 20 Mark Pottle (ed.), Daring to Hope: The 39 Lady Violet Bonham Carter, Graham Lippiatt is a Contributing as long as it Diaries and Letters of Violet Bonham Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury Editor to the Journal of Liberal Carter, 1946–69 (Weidenfield and DBE, 1887–1969: daughter of prime History. wasn’t violet. Nicolson, 2000), pp. 199–200. minister H. H. Asquith. 21 Paul Tyler (Baron Tyler), b. 1941: 40 Mark Pottle (ed.), Champion 1 In Scotland, Commissioners of the Liberal MP for Bodmin, 1974 and Redoubtable: The Diaries and Letters Shires and Burgesses of the (Royal) North Cornwall, 1992–2005. of Violet Bonham Carter, 1914–45 Burghs. 22 F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary (Weidenfield & Nicolson, 1998), p. 113. 2 There were three Reform Acts in Election Results 1885–1918 (Macmillan 41 Information to the author from Dr 1832 – one for England and Wales, Press, 1974), p. 238. Sandy Waugh, author of A Scottish one for Scotland and one for Ireland. 23 Information to the author from Paul Liberal Perspective: A Centenary 3 The Times, 10 Sept. 1833, p. 4. Tyler, 5 Mar. 2012. Commemoration for Sir Henry 4 Manuel Adolphsen, ‘Branding 24 Information to the author from Campbell-Bannerman, 1836–1908, 26 in Election Campaigns: Just a Michael Steed, 5 Mar. 2012 Dec. 2013. Buzzword or a New Quality of 25 Information to the author from 42 Ivor Crewe and Anthony King, SDP: Political Communication?’ MSc William Wallace, Lord Wallace of The Birth, Life and Death of the Social dissertation (LSE, 2008). Saltaire, 4 Mar. 2012 Democratic Society (OUP, 1995), p. 217. 5 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_ 26 Barnes, Journal of Conservative History. 43 Charles Kennedy, b 1959: Leader of politics/7259197.stm 27 William Wallace (Baron Wallace of the Liberal Democrats, 1999–2006. 6 See Registration of Political Parties Saltaire), b. 1941. 44 Information to the author from Dr Act, 1988 and Political Parties, 28 Information to the author from Sandy Waugh. Elections and Referendums Act, 2000. William Wallace, Lord Wallace of 45 Information to the authors from 7 John Barnes, ‘Party Colours’, Journal Saltaire, 4 Mar. 2012 Berkeley Farr, former Chairman of Conservative History, Summer 2004. 29 F. W. S. Craig, British Parliamentary of the Ulster Liberal Party and 8 Ibid. Election Results 1950–1970 (Political candidate for South Down in 1973. 9 Information to the author from Reference Publications, 1971), p. 442. 46 Lady Megan Lloyd George, Sir David Steel (Baron Steel of 30 Sir Cyril Smith MBE, 1928–2010: 1902–1966: daughter of David Aikwood), 10 Dec. 2013 Liberal MP for Rochdale 1972–1992. Lloyd George, Liberal MP for 10 Geraint Howells, 1925–2004: 31 Information to the author from Anglesey 1929–1951, Labour MP for Liberal MP for Cardigan 1974–83, Michael Steed, 5 Mar. 2012. Carmarthen 1957–66. Ceredigion and Pembroke North 1983–1992. 11 Martin Thomas, Lord Thomas of Gresford b.1937: Liberal candidate for Flintshire West 1964–1970. 12 Information to the author, 5 Mar. 2012 13 Interview with Lady Shirley REpoRTS Hooson, 16 Feb. 2014 14 Geoffrey D. M. Block OBE, former Assistant Director (Information) at the Conservative Research Social reformers and liberals: the Rowntrees Department, author of A Source and their legacy Book of Conservatism (Conservative Political Centre, 1964) and The Tory Conference fringe meeting, 7 March 2014, with Ian Packer, Tradition (Conservative Political Centre, 1957). Lord Shutt and Tina Walker; chair: Lord Kirkwood 15 Raymond Campbell Paterson, Report by David Cloke A Land Afflicted: Scotland and the Covenanter Wars 1638–1690 (John Donald, 1998), p. 26. he Liberal Democrat His- discursive, but ultimately enlight- 16 Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, tory Group’s meeting at ening and thought-provoking 1732–1792: prime minister 1770–82, Tthe 2014 Spring Confer- review of the life, work and legacy he resigned to avoid losing a vote of ence was an intriguing, somewhat of Joseph and Seebohm Rowntree 40 Journal of Liberal History 84 Autumn 2014 REpoRT – SoCial REfoRMERS AND liBERalS: THE RoWNTREES AND THEIR LEgaCY – successful businessmen, pioneers of social investigation and commit- ted Liberals. As Ian Packer, of Lin- coln University, noted at the start of his talk, the Rowntree name is known for two things: as a brand name for chocolates and sweets, and as the supporters of serious inves- tigations into social conditions. This renown is due to the activi- ties of Joseph Rowntree and his son Seebohm. As Packer rightly said, it all began with the company. Joseph Rowntree was born in 1836, the second son of a Quaker family that owned a wholesale grocery busi- ness. In 1869 he joined his younger brother Henry in a small chocolate and cocoa business that Henry had founded seven years earlier – and by small Packer meant a company the firm, and in that sense there had From left: Ian of the audience asked why both the consisting of twelve workers and a been an element of social ownership. Packer, Archy Rowntrees and another Quaker donkey that undertook deliveries! The Rowntrees did not keep Kirkwood, David family, the Cadburys, had gone In Packer’s view Joseph was the their views on management to Shutt, Tina into the chocolate business. Packer effective founder of the company. themselves and Seebohm was a the- Walker argued that it stemmed in part from He was its driving force (Henry orist and publisher on management their temperance activities and died in 1883) and was especially and labour relations. His first book, that they saw cocoa as providing a skilled as an accountant. A key The Human Factory Business (1921), good-quality drink for the work- decision on the road to success was was a key text in the development ing classes. to begin the manufacture of fruit of management theory. He argued Joseph wrote or co-wrote five pastilles in 1881. In 1890 Rowntree consistently that good wages and books on the subject of alcohol in established a new factory in New conditions were important for effi- the seven years between 1899 and Earswick and by 1902 employed ciency as well as for labour rela- 1906. Packer argued that three main 2,000 people. Although Joseph did tions and that a well-paid, engaged points emerge from these writings. not retire until 1923, when he was workforce was good for British Firstly, he saw drinking as a result eighty-seven, he shared the run- industry. He developed a more of the deprivations of urban life, ning of the company with his four scientific approach to manage- which needed to be tackled. Sec- sons, three nephews and two sons- ment, highlighting cost account- ond, the public needed to be made in-law (it was very much a family ing, proper research and the use aware of how poor conditions were concern). Nonetheless, it was clear of psychology and the company in many of England’s cities. Third, that his heir apparent was his sec- became the first business to employ working-class families did not have ond son, Seebohm, who was man- a psychologist. sufficient income to feed the whole aging director from 1923 to 1936. Packer reported that Joseph family and a great number had no Packer made it clear that the and Seebohm had a range of inter- margin for alcohol. experience of running a business ests. Joseph was obsessed with col- These findings fed into the informed by their Quaker faith lecting statistics and Packer noted investigations undertaken by See- influenced their moral and politi- later that it was this quasi-scientific bohm, the most famous of which cal thought, and that in turn influ- approach that made the arguments was the first,Poverty: A Study of enced how they ran the business. of the Rowntrees so persuasive in Town Life, published in 1901. This The Rowntrees developed an early the early years of the twentieth cen- was a study of his home city, York, form of corporate welfare, with tury. Joseph’s great crusade had and tabulated the income of work- an eight-hour working day, a pen- initially been against alcohol. Dur- ing-class households and their sion scheme, works councils and ing the 1870s he came to see it as the expenditure. Packer argued that, profit sharing. What they did not key cause of the poverty and mis- despite that seemingly dry, statis- do was hand over the company to ery around him in York.