Wainwright urged them to be bro- ken, as they were with the Bolton REPORTS East by election in 1960. Later in the 1970s Wainwright took part in the Lib–Lab Pact, despite being vulnerable to it, Forgotten heroes for a governing party relying as he did on Tory votes Evening meeting, 20 June 2011 with Dr Matt Cole, Lord in his fight against Labour in his constituency. In part he supported Navnit Dholakia, Baroness Floella Benjamin and Dr Mark the pact because his parliamentary Pack; chair: Baroness Claire Tyler. colleagues had. But, pragmatically, Wainwright sought to use the pact Report by David Cloke to advance policies he believed in: worker representation, through the Post Office Bill; electoral reform; he Group’s July meeting, Wainwright himself was not Dr Matt Cole, a land bank and a minimum wage. chaired by Liberal Democrat keen on hero worship, as a Noncon- Whilst none of these policies were Tpeer Claire Tyler, mused on formist he was not keen on icons. Lord Navnit implemented he brought them out the theme of forgotten heroes for Following a trip to Paris in 1938 he of obscurity. a governing party. Baroness Tyler had written a report on the Radi- Dholakia, Despite this, Wainwright fell out opened the meeting by noting that cal Party in which he had written of love with the Pact fairly quickly, there were many forgotten, some positively of its lack of ties to the Baroness realising that Labour were not going deservedly so, but that others were past noting that ‘there is no Glad- to deliver, notably on electoral sources of inspiration and useful stone, no Cobden, no Asquith. In Floella Ben- reform. When he chaired the Party quotations. She hoped that the responding to questions later, Cole Assembly debate on the pact follow- speakers would rescue their heroes said that he felt that Wainwright jamin and Dr ing the rejection of electoral reform from the twilight of history and would have been embarrassed to for the European elections he skil- demonstrate how they could influ- have been chosen as a hero. Mark Pack fully reflected the anger of the grass- ence Liberal Democrats today and Nonetheless, Wainwright was roots without breaking ranks with in government. Dr Matt Cole, Lord himself a historian and understood between his colleagues. He poured scorn on Navnit Dholakia, Baroness Floella that there was something to be Labour’s rejection of PR arguing Benjamin and Dr Mark Pack learnt from the past. He had writ- them pro- that it put out of court any renewal between them proposed an inspir- ten a history of his constituency of the pact. Nonetheless, he accepted ing and formidable list of heroes, and the Liberal candidates and MPs. posed an that it needed to continue to the end drawn from close personal and In answering questions later, Cole inspiring and of the agreement. working relationships, admiration stressed the importance of Wain- Dr Cole noted that once Wain- across political boundaries, detailed wright’s local organisation and formidable wright had committed himself biographical study and a broad his- local campaigning and his develop- to something he stuck to it. Cole torical perspective. ment of the local Young Liberals list of heroes, argued that there was not a prob- Dr Cole launched proceed- and Women Liberal Association. lem with changing one’s mind, ings with the case for Richard He liked being a constituency MP. drawn from but changing one’s mind on things Wainwright MP. He felt that he In Cole’s view Wainwright had that had been promised did dam- had perhaps lost the element of three qualities that were rare in close per- age, which he felt was a lesson to be surprise regarding his choice hav- combination: pragmatism, loyalty learnt. ing just written a biography of the to the party, and holding fast to his sonal and Wainwright’s loyalty to the man. He had chosen him, both as principles. He demonstrated these party had been demonstrated in a hero but also as a worthy subject qualities in a number of ways over working rela- his dealings with the Social Demo- of biography because he was a the years. crats, which had not been easy significant figure of a particular Wainwright had joined the tionships, for him, and in his relationships type in the history of the Liberal Party in 1936 when it was split three with party leaders. He defended Party. He was just below the top ways and he first fought for it as a admiration them even when he was unhappy. rank, lacked national and media candidate in 1950 when it was at its Only when he thought things had exposure and was frequently omit- lowest ebb, losing over 300 depos- across politi- become impossible did he move, ted from histories of the party. He its. This inspired his pragmatic triggering Thorpe’s resignation had no aspirations to be leader, approach. He understood the need cal bounda- in 1976 and encouraging Steel’s and his dislike of London, the to enter into deals and work with ries, detailed after the 1987 general election. His Westminster set pieces and the other parties in order to support the actions had been based on evidence media effectively precluded him party. One of his mentors was the biographical and in the interests of the party, from that role. Nonetheless he, and Liberal MP, Donald Wade; he was not out of any personal dislike. His others like him, helped the party MP for Huddersfield West in the study and loyalty was also demonstrated in to survive in its traditional form 1950s as a result of a deal with local his personal generosity to the party and took it forward to the Liberal Conservatives. It was only by such a broad and to associated causes includ- Democrats and to becoming a pacts that Liberals had representa- ing, as a contributor from the floor party of government, something, tion in urban Britain. Nonetheless, historical noted, the Joseph Rowntree Trust. Cole stressed, Wainwright had once he believed that the party Wainwright was also loyal to wanted to achieve. could survive without such deals perspective. his principles, even when they

36 Journal of Liberal History 73 Winter 2011–12 reports were not part of the mainstream Wainwright, in the country and sought to con- Taking her turn, Floella Benja- view amongst Liberals. He was an tribute to the political system. The min, spoke passionately and obvi- anti-militarist and did not fight and others person who had helped him at this ously with much love and affection in the Second World War, and a time was his next potential hero, about her friend Antonella Lothian, social reformer concerned with like him, Jo Grimond. He had heard him the Marchioness of Lothian. She women’s rights, sexuality and the at a meeting of the Assembly and urged the meeting not to be put role of youth. He acted as a bridge helped the had later spoken to him. Dholakia off by her title. Antonella herself between the leadership and these recalled being mesmerised by Gri- was aware of the problem and liked groups within the party. party to mond, his original thinking, his to be called Tony. For Benjamin, Cole argued that Wainwright concern for the rest of the world Tony Lothian was an extraordinary recognised that the fight against survive in its and his focus on poverty and com- woman, full of vision, compas- the tyrannies of conformity and traditional munity. Grimond had also assured sion and wisdom. She had known poverty would never cease, that it him that the party that would con- her for thirty years as a friend and was unfinished business, and that form and tinue to support him. mentor: a rock-like supporter who he also realised the importance of Despite that, Dholakia’s hero had motivated her and thousands of deciding how to take on that fight. took it for- was not Jo Grimond or even a other women. She saw the human These remained as true today as member of the Liberal Party. He being in all and their talent and they had in Wainwright’s time. ward to the was a man described by the Mar- potential. The way she lived her life Navnit Dholakia started his talk quess of Salisbury as ‘too clever by had been summed up for Benjamin by recalling that he had known Liberal Dem- half’, Ian Macleod. What inspired by a remark she had made whilst on Richard Wainwright and declaring Dholakia was Macleod’s imple- a fact-finding mission to Moscow: that what Dr Cole had said was true ocrats and mentation of what he believed in, ‘Never be afraid to speak out and in every sense. He then proceeded particularly in the area of colo- do what is morally right.’ to work towards his hero in the to becoming nial policy. He often visited the Tony Lothian had a charismatic, manner, as he put it, of a Liberal countries concerned, promoted striking appearance, and when Democrat raffle, starting with the a party of independence and had encouraged Benjamin had known her, dyed fourth placed person first. Macmillan to make his ‘wind of black hair and a black patch over one His first thought was Aung San government. change’ speech. No Liberal could eye, which she had lost as a result Suu Kyi, whose Reith lectures he have said the things that Macleod of cancer. She always wore either had recently attended via tapes did on a Conservative platform black and white or red and white. smuggled out of Burma. She had on this and on other issues, such as She had been born in Rome in 1922, highlighted that, for him, freedom, the abolition of the death penalty the daughter of a British army doc- justice, rights and liberties were key. and homosexual law reform. He tor and an Italian woman and often He then reflected on his moth- also worked with Liberal MPs and described herself as a doctor’s daugh- er’s influence, which was in some with opponents such as Callaghan ter. Her strong political (though not ways an indirect one. He had been and Bevan. He had also been close often partisan) views first emerged born in a small bush town in Tan- friends with Enoch Powell but when she visited family in Ger- zania. Whilst at primary school he broke with him completely after many shortly before the war. She realised that his mother could not the rivers of blood speech. spoke out against the treatment of read or write. Reading the Bhaga- Dholakia recalled that when he Jews, and was hastily sent back to vad-Gita to her had informed him first entered the House of Lords England before she got herself into from an early age. he had sat with the former Con- serious trouble. There she met Peter His next potential hero was servative Home Secretary Lord Lothian, the future twelfth Mar- Julius Nyerere, who had attended Carr. Dholakia had been angry quess of Lothian, and married him at the same school, and who Dholakia with Labour’s continual playing the age of twenty-one. They had six had met when he had come to the of the numbers game on immigra- children and a happy marriage last- UK to study. Dholakia reported tion and Carr reported that it had ing sixty years. Benjamin stressed that when he had asked Nyerere been Macleod’s influence that had the importance of Peter Lothian’s why he was in England, he had told ensured that Britain honoured steadying role in supporting his wife him that he was there to negotiate its commitments to the Ugandan and noted that behind every power- independence. Dholakia thought Asians expelled by Idi Amin. He ful woman was a strong supportive that this was a remarkable aspira- also noted that the decision by Cab- man, including, she charmingly tion given the time it had taken for inet had taken all of five minutes. noted, her own husband. India to achieve her independence. Dholakia wondered if Cameron Tony Lothian was a commit- These reflections had led would make such a promise and ted Roman Catholic who went to Dholakia to cast his mind back to stick to it. mass every morning at 8.30. Whilst his experiences in Britain in the In summing up, Dholakia she described herself as a Christian 1950s and 60s and the sheer hatred argued that it did not take away his feminist, Benjamin noted that, on demonstrated to people from Com- love and affection for the Liberal a couple of occasions, her views on monwealth countries. For Dholakia Party that he had joined fifty-five abortion had led to some conflict this had magnified following his years previously to have chosen with other women. Lothian always election to Brighton Council. For Macleod: there are others who stressed the importance, however, of the first six months he had to have influence you. He believed that the broad coalitions. She demonstrated police escorts to attend council country had lost the greatest liberal this in her own life by working meetings and for a time he had in the Conservative Party when closely with Coretta Scott King, wondered to himself why he stayed Macleod died. the soviet cosmonaut Valentina

Journal of Liberal History 73 Winter 2011–12 37 reports

Tereshkova, and the American Grey was a In some ways Mark Pack had a concerned proved to be successful communist who became women’s more traditional choice for a hero, in the post to which they had been editor of the Morning Star, Mikki reformer except that there could be some appointed. Doyle. Her family, meanwhile, debate about whether he was ‘for- Grey’s most significant achieve- was a Conservative one, notably rather than gotten’. He had brought his party ment was the Great Reform Act, her eldest son, Michael Ancram and back to power after twenty-three which Pack stated he would not her husband an equerry to Prince a radical but, years in opposition, oversaw major dwell on as the issue had been Charles. This meant that, accord- political reform, led a successful covered in an earlier meeting and ing to Benjamin, Lothian’s personal as such, a coalition with Conservatives, and reported on in the Journal. None- political views were something of a his views on issues such as race and theless, it demonstrated Grey’s mystery, though she believed that, Liberal who religion had aged well. The person tenacity, guile and persuasive despite occasional outbursts, such could be concerned was Charles Grey – Earl skills. His first attempt at getting as declaring that she did not really Grey – who was now at least as it through was initially successful believe in capitalism, Lothian was a remembered famous for the tea that bore his in the House of Commons, being ‘floating voter’. name as anything else. Pack argued passed with a majority of one on The focus of Lothian’s work was for his deeds that Grey should be beloved of the biggest ever turn-out of MPs, the promotion of women. She had party leaders with his pragmatic but was scuppered by an amend- jointly established the Women of and achieve- creed that ‘practical good is infi- ment in committee. The second the Year lunches in 1955 to celebrate nitely preferable to speculative attempt passed the Commons only women’s achievements. At that ments as perfection’. to be defeated in the Lords. On time, Benjamin noted, there were Grey had become a parliamen- the third attempt he managed to no female peers in the House of well as his tarian at a youthful age, became bluff the Lords into thinking that Lords. Women were definitely sec- embroiled in the trial of Warren the king was willing to create the ond-class citizens at this time and words. Hastings, which pout him at the number of peers necessary to have the idea was ridiculed with some centre of political life. He was a the bill passed. He thus pre-empted claiming that there would only be youthful, but short-lived, Foreign the tactics of the People’s Budget by a handful of eligible attendees. In Secretary, and was only a little more than eighty years. fact 500 attended the first lunch. older than David Owen when he Pack also noted that Grey also Over the next fifty years, women took up office. Pack argued that the had characteristics that might from every possible background comparison was instructive because not serve him so well as a modern were celebrated at the annual event. Grey’s natural inclination was to politician. He was something a lad Lothian didn’t seek to trade places be a uniter and with that ability he about town, and had an affair and with men but to ensure that women was able to return to office as prime an illegitimate child with Geor- had their say in how the world was minister, something Owen failed giana, Duchess of Devonshire, run. A practical way in which she to achieve. a tale which featured in a recent did this was to write and publish a Grey’s opportunity arose when film. Nonetheless, in his own age biography of Tereshkova because the Conservative government it did not undermine his ability she felt that it was important to see crumbled and split over political to achieve results. Indeed, Pack the world through her eyes. reform. As the government had argued that Georgiana’s Whig con- Lothian had many running bat- not been swept away by a general nections may have helped him have tles which she faced with a smile election, Grey had to put together a successful political career. and with charm. In the words of a coalition from the existing The other defining and inspir- one member of her family, she ‘used parliament. He skilfully knitted ing moments of Grey’s career were, the devil’s ways to do God’s work’. together a government made up of according to Pack, his defence of She hated racism, declaring that all Tories and Radicals and all shades liberty against the security scares were descended from the first man in between. Pack compared his following the Peterloo massacre; on earth, a black man from Africa. achievement to having a Cabinet his moving of the motion propos- As a catholic, she campaigned with both John Redwood and Tony ing the abolition of the slave trade against abortion. She also cam- Greaves in it. and his abolition of slavery as prime paigned for a healthy eating life- Pack gave as an example of minister and his arguments for style long before it was fashionable, Grey’s political skills, his handling religious tolerance and Catholic and established the Health Festival. of Henry Brougham. Brougham emancipation. Pack also noted In short, she was not afraid to go was a passionate, charismatic, his introduction of democracy against the tide, even when she was annoying, inconsistent populist into local government. Pack also attacked. But, Benjamin argued, firebrand. He was at the height seemed to feel that the nature of his Lothian also knew how to get the of his popularity in 1830 when departure from political life was best out of other people and make he won election to the House of inspiring. Having been defeated in them aspire beyond their dreams. Commons as a Yorkshire MP. Grey parliament, rather than fight on, he In summary, Benjamin declared managed to put Brougham into a decided to slip away whilst still at that Lothian made a difference to position where he could not refuse the height of his powers. humankind and could have con- a peerage, thus stripping away his For Pack, Grey was a reformer tributed much to the Liberal Dem- populist base, and appointed his as rather than a radical but, as such, a ocrats. Her legacy lived on, even his Lord Chancellor, where he was Liberal who could be remembered among those who did not know she a notable legal reformer. Pack high- for his deeds and achievements as had affected them, and that those lighted that a rare aspect of such well as his words: a worthy man to who did loved her still. manoeuvrings was that individual remember.

38 Journal of Liberal History 73 Winter 2011–12 reports

At the end of the meeting, the with the help of people like Navnit The paper’s political advice has panel was asked who amongst cur- Dholakia. In answering the ques- varied much over the years. Julian rent and recent Liberal Democrats tion directly, she chose Shirley Wil- Glover even located a 1950s Guard- most reflected the characteristics liams whom she regarded as sharp, ian editorial which urged people to of their chosen hero. Pack chose attentive to detail and not afraid to vote out Clement Atlee and vote in Roy Jenkins because of his ability stand up against the tide. She was the Conservative Party. But much to achieve radical change. Dholakia also willing to give help and advice. of the time the paper had been a agreed about Roy Jenkins, who Finally, Matt Cole chose Vince Labour-supporting outlet which was the first Home Secretary to Cable, another Yorkshireman, who urged best wishes on the Liberals introduce race relations legislation, was almost universally respected at and their successors, often advising but also stressed the importance of the time of writing the Wainwright the party to be just a little different figures like Nancy Seear and Frank biography. That esteem had been in a benevolent / condescending Byers. Floella Benjamin had earlier tarnished a little by the effect of (delete to taste) way. noted that, in Navnit Dholakia, the holding office, but Wainwright Much of the editorialising about meeting had a Liberal hero amongst himself never had to weather the Britain’s third party has been, as them. She had shared his experience modern media storm. Glover highlighted, variants on a of hatred earlier in her life, but on common theme: to bemoan that reflecting on her peerage, she had David Cloke is Treasurer of the Liberal the third party is not fully backing felt that she reached that position Democrat History Group. whatever cause is of most concern to the paper at the time. The other theme, he added, is to write off the third party as doomed. On occa- sion, The Guardian has combined both themes in one leader, includ- Peace, Reform and Liberation ing in a 1987 leader that said, ‘These ‘Being a rela- are dire days for the Alliance. They Conference fringe meeting, 19 September 2011, with Julian have some of the most thought- Glover, Paddy Ashdown and Shirley Williams; chair: Duncan tive outsider ful and radical politicians around.’ Glover added, ‘As a paper we cer- Brack. compared to tainly seem to enjoy nothing more Report by Mark Pack than praising the Liberal Party and the older MPs the Liberal Democrats while going on to explain why we can’t actually t would be a brave person who Shirley Williams was late! He also I had, in my support it.’ The party’s 1992 general walked up to Paddy Ashdown or quoted Paddy Ashdown’s words on rush to cre- election manifesto received praise IShirley Williams and told them the importance of political history from the paper: ‘it far outdistances to their face that they are history, to a party, taken from his autobi- ate the new its competitors with a fizz of ideas or even old, but they are two of the ography, A Fortunate Life, in which and an absence of fudge’, but even most charismatic, interesting and Ashdown recounted some of the party, failed that was not enough for the paper thoughtful members of the living problems of the 1989 SDP–Liberal to call for Paddy to become prime history class – people who have merger. He wrote that, ‘Being a rela- to under- minister. ‘So there you have it, 150 been around in politics long enough tive outsider compared to the older years from The Guardian and the to be able to talk at first hand about MPs I had, in my rush to create the stand that Manchester Guardian calling on the not only the origins of the Liberal new party, failed to understand that Liberal Party and the Liberal Dem- Democrats but prior events too. a political party is about more than a political ocrats to be brave, radical; praising So to have both on the bill at the plans, priorities, policies and a chro- the party’s policies and then writ- Liberal Democrat History Group’s mium-plated organisation. It also party is about ing it off as irrelevant’, concluded Autumn 2011 conference fringe has a heart and a history and a soul.’ Julian Glover. meeting not surprisingly resulted in The same applies to a newspa- more than He was followed by Paddy Ash- a spacious room being packed, leav- per, too, and in kicking off with the down, who in typical fashion strode ing people standing at the sides, the first main speech Julian Glover took plans, priori- towards the audience before starting back and in the doorways. How- a look at one part of his newspaper’s to quiz everyone in the room, test- ever, the star of the show in many history and soul – its on/off, love/ ties, policies ing people’s knowledge with quotes ways was the less well-known third hate relationship with the Liberal from history. After an easy duo with speaker, then of The Guardian and Party and its successors. Glover and a chro- ‘Go back to your constituencies now of Downing Street, Julian cited The Guardian’s May 2010 edi- mium-plated and prepare for government’ and ‘I Glover. torial urging people to vote Liberal intend to march my troops towards All three were introduced to the Democrat. But, as Glover added, organisation. the sound of gunfire’, with the audi- meeting by the Group’s chair, and ‘As soon as we did it, we changed ence easily and correctly guessing (or one of the lead authors of the book our minds.’ That prevarication is It also has a in many cases, remembering) David being launched, Peace, Reform and nothing new and, he implied, not Steel and Jo Grimond, Ashdown Liberation, Duncan Brack. He reas- necessarily much of a problem for heart and a posed a tougher one with, ‘Ideas are sured the audience that the meeting the party given that polling showed not responsible for the people who was maintaining historical party that Labour support amongst history and a believe in them’. The answer? Paddy traditions, for Paddy Ashdown was Guardian readers went up after that himself (on being particularly exas- going to have to leave early … and 2010 editorial. soul.’ perated by Alex Carlisle). Probably.

Journal of Liberal History 73 Winter 2011–12 39