tHE fLIGHt fROm tHE LIbERAL PARTY LIbERALS WHO JOINED LAbOuR, 1914–1931 From 1914 to 1931, many of those previously active in Liberal politics defected to Labour. Why did so many Liberals switch their political allegiance (‘almost like changing one’s religion’, as one Liberal MP observed) and abandon their party, which had been in office, or coalition government, from 1906 to 1922, to enlist with the fledgling Labour Party? And how far, if at all, did their presence influence Labour’s development during a key period of political realignment in British politics? Professor John Shepherd examines the history. 24 Journal of Liberal History 67 Summer 2010 tHE fLIGHt fROm tHE LIbERAL PARTY LIbERALS WHO JOINED LAbOuR, 1914–1931 n 13 December 1923 advice of the Fabian Sidney Webb, for Glasgow Bridgeton (1910– the former Liberal who had inundated MacDonald 22), who joined Labour in 1924, imperialist, Secre- with written guidance about tak- ‘changing one’s political party tary of State for War ing office.4 is almost like changing one’s and Lord Chan- The announcement of the new religion’. As he also shrewdly Ocellor, Lord Haldane, wrote his administration, which included observed, the process of conver- daily letter as usual from Lon- ex-Liberals and Conservatives sion en masse was a rare event.8 don to his ninety-nine-year-old alongside figures from the trade Nonetheless, he was now witness- mother, Mary, in Scotland about union and labour movement, ing a mass movement of this kind his negotiations with Ramsay attracted considerable attention in the world of twentieth-century MacDonald. The Labour leader abroad as well as in domestic poli- politics. Why did so many Lib- was about to form Britain’s first tics. 5 However, it was MacDonald erals switch political allegiance Labour government. ‘In the who was primarily responsible for and abandon their party, which evening he offered me anything bringing in ‘specialised outsiders’ had been in office, or coalition I chose if I would help him; the to appeal to the middle-class as government, from 1906 to 1922, leadership of the House of Lords, well as traditional working-class to enlist with the new fledgling the Chancellorship, Defence, voters of Britain.6 As well as Hal- Labour Party? And how far, if at Education and the carrying out dane, among those now rewarded all, did their presence influence of my plans … the press is in full with Cabinet office were former Labour’s development during an cry and Williams [Haldane’s but- Liberals Charles Trevelyan (Edu- important period of political rea- ler] is keeping them off’.1 In Janu- cation), Josiah Wedgwood (Chan- lignment in British politics? ary 1924, Haldane became Lord cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster), Probably around three hun- Chancellor rather than the former Noel Buxton (Agriculture and dred MPs of all parties changed Conservative and King’s Bench Fisheries), and also ex-Conserv- their political affiliation during judge John Sankey, MacDonald’s ative recruits, Lord Parmoor the last century.9 Individual poli- original choice. Haldane told his (Lord President), Lord Thomson ticians switching political con- mother and sister that MacDon- (Air) and, most surprisingly, the nections between the Liberal and ald ‘has consulted me about every former Viceroy of India, Lord Labour parties have been part of appointment’.2 Chelmsford (Admiralty). Other the warp and weft of twentieth- Haldane’s triumphant tone non-Cabinet posts were also filled century British politics. In early revealed he firmly believed that by ex-Liberals, such as Sir Patrick twentieth-century Britain, the meetings he had held with Mac- Hastings (Attorney General), and years between 1914 and 1931 were Donald in London and Scot- Arthur Ponsonby (who returned ‘Into the arguably the most significant in land had greatly influenced the to the Foreign Office as MacDon- Limelight’, Punch, terms of movements between par- Labour leader. From India a ald’s deputy). 29 November ties.10 Over forty years ago, before reassured Viceroy, Lord Lyt- From 1914 to 1931, many 1922: in the 1922 many collections of politicians’ ton, wrote to Haldane: ‘I think previously active in Liberal election, Labour private papers became open, Pro- I can trace your hand in most of politics (or with strong Liberal under Ramsay fessor Catherine Cline published the appointments’.3 MacDonald associations) defected to Labour Macdonald a pioneering study based on sev- had seemingly not sought advice in broadly three clusters: the first beat the Liberal enty prominent recruits who had from senior Labour figures such as during 1914–1918, followed by factions led by joined Labour in the early twen- Arthur Henderson, J. R. Clynes another contingent from 1919 to Asquith and tieth century, the vast majority (both – unlike MacDonald – with 1925, and then the last who joined Lloyd George of whom were former Liberals, ministerial experience in the from the mid-1920s to the early to become the mainly from the progressive wing wartime government) or Philip 1930s.7 According to Andrew leading party of of the party. Included were poli- Snowden. Nor did he heed the MacCullum Scott, Liberal MP the left. ticians such as Lord Haldane, Journal of Liberal History 67 Summer 2010 25 the flight from the liberal party Charles Trevelyan, Arthur Pon- deciphering politicians’ manoeu- 1910–18 and later Labour Presi- sonby, Christopher Addison, Noel vrings between different coalition dent of the Board of Education in Buxton and Charles Roden Bux- and non-coalition factions.17 1931, returned to parliament from ton, as well as the financier Sir Leo Since the 1960s, a considerable serving as a private on the West- Chiozza Money and John A. Hob- amount of ink has been expended ern Front to oppose the measure.20 son, the influential economist.11 by historians debating the ‘decline Even more crucial to declin- Only three women featured of Liberalism and the rise of ing Liberal fortunes were the among her recruits to Labour: Labour’.18 The impact of the First deep divisions created by Lloyd Mary (Molly) Hamilton, Dorothy World War on British politics George’s ousting of Asquith to Buxton and Helena Swanwick.12 and society was crucially signifi- take over the wartime premier- More recently, two historians cant in the growth of the Labour ship in 1916, which brought about have thrown valuable light on this Party and the decline and even a fatal rupture in British Liberal- intriguing subject. Martin Pugh’s eventual destruction of the Liberal ism and demoralised Liberals in account of recruits from upper- Party. Over forty years on, Trevor the constituencies. As the party class Conservative backgrounds, Wilson’s powerful and endur- haemorrhaged parliamentary and such as Sir Oswald Mosley, Oliver ing metaphor about the Liberal municipal membership to Labour Baldwin (son of Stanley Bald- Party, which likened its down- or the Conservatives, for many win), Lady Warwick and Muriel, fall to the fate of a healthy pedes- disaffected Liberals Lloyd George Countess De Warr, reveals the trian mowed down by a runaway bore the overwhelming respon- extent of their influence within omnibus, still seems apposite.19 sibility for the permanent split in Labour politics. 13 David Howell’s The Liberal government’s par- their party.21 It was a charge that study of the development of the ticipation in the First World War, stuck to him, as many Liberals British Labour Party during Mac- its lack of clear war aims and, remained increasingly distrustful Donald’s leadership demonstrates in particular, the failure of Sir of the ‘Welsh Wizard’, even dur- how progressive politicians from Edward Grey as Foreign Secretary ing his long exclusion from power other parties formed a significant to declare the nature and extent after 1922. In 1918 the parlia- part of Labour’s multi-identities in of the British military undertak- mentary confrontation between the interwar years.14 According to ings with France were certainly Asquith and Lloyd George dur- Robert Dowse, in all probability decisive factors in the growing ing the Maurice Debate about more than two thousand Liber- disenchantment among radical Why politi- British troop levels on the West- als active in national and munici- Liberals. At the outbreak of hos- ern Front had demonstrated clear pal politics shifted to Labour at tilities, not just Charles Trevelyan, cians change Liberal divisions at Westminster. this time, although he gives no parliamentary under-secretary at The ‘Coupon Election’, in which evidence as to how this figure the Board of Education, but also parties can 130 coalition Liberals supporting was arrived at.15 Interestingly, Cabinet ministers John Burns and Lloyd George were returned to undertaken some fifty years ago, John Morley all resigned from be a fascinat- Westminster compared to only Dowse’s research into the paths Asquith’s government. Unprec- ing and intri- twenty-eight independent Liber- former Liberals followed into the edented total war compelled the als under Asquith, emphasised this Labour Party between 1910 and Asquith and Lloyd George war- cate question critical rupture within the party, 1920 had a secondary purpose of time premierships to implement now divided into two bellicose shedding light on the possibility illiberal policies undreamt of by involving factions. of a major Liberal–Labour rea- British Liberals. The Defence of Despite brief periods of Liberal lignment during the first main the Realm Act (DORA) hast- political unity in 1923 and 1929, Liberalism post-war Liberal revival under Jo ily enacted in August 1914 and remained fatally wounded dur- Grimond’s leadership in the late later renewed, was followed by convictions, ing the post-war years in contrast 1950s and early 1960s.16 restrictions on personal liber- to the remarkable growth of the Why politicians change parties ties including press censorship, motivation Labour Party at parliamentary can be a fascinating and intricate identity cards, food rationing and and municipal levels.