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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 reports

He admitted he may have borrowed Left to right: where that balance lies for your She then turned to the way the it from someone else and forgotten. Julian Glover, time, for your nation and for your Liberal Party declined so sharply (A search through Hansard finds Shirley Williams, generation. It does not lie always in in the early twentieth century, him first using the phrase in Parlia- Duncan Brack, the same place. You have to deter- becoming reduced to near irrel- ment 1986, in a different context and Paddy Ashdown mine that. That is why liberalism is evance. ‘What kept it going were even then not sure if he had penned (photo: Matt a living creed.’ He finished saying, the deep roots it had put down in it himself).1 Cole) ‘The thing that we have in our party some parts of the country – the He went on to entertain and title – liberal – goes back thousands Pennines, parts of the West Coun- enlighten the audience with a of years. You should be proud of try and of course the Celtic Welsh sequence of many other quotes from that. It should give us strength, and and Scottish Liberals,’ Shirley past Liberals, including from Lord it should make us campaign even Williams explained. Her own Acton: ‘A state which is incompetent harder … Henry Gibson once said, roots, of course, are in the social to satisfy different races, condemns ‘You do not go out to battle for democracy rather than liberalism – itself. A state which labours to freedom and truth wearing your a distinction she described as being neutralise, to absorb, to expel them best trousers.’ Sometimes I think based on being less distrustful of destroys its own vitality. A state our party wears its best trousers too the powers of the state, but also a which does not include them is desti- much. This is our heritage and it is distinction that has faded as the tute of the chief basis of self-govern- also our message today – and we merged Liberal Democrats have ment.’ Acton got several mentions, should be proud of it’. evolved. with Ashdown also picking out It would take a speaker of rare Returning to America and the what he described as one of his skill to match Ashdown’s speech, uses of history, Williams said that favourite quotes: ‘It is easier to find but Shirley Williams is one of the lessons from the 1930s are still very people fit to govern themselves than select band who could – and did, relevant. One of her conclusions it is to find people fit to govern’. The even though she opened joking that from them is the need to consider a quote should be emblazoned across she wished she had after all agreed to job creation program, aimed par- the party’s political manuals, he said, speak before rather than after him. ticularly at young people, funded making the implicit point that many She contrasted Ashdown’s drawing by a dedicated temporary tax. of the lessons past liberal drew from of lessons from the more distant past More optimistically, she thinks their contemporary experience are with her own talk – looking at the politicians have learnt from the still highly relevant today. lessons from more recent political 1930s that they should not ‘simply As he said, ‘our history is our pre- history, in particular the way the take the dictation of the market sent’ – just after quoting Gladstone limited teaching of history in the US without any question as to whether on Afghanistan. Different centuries, helps shapes its leaders’ worldview – it is right or whether it isn’t.’ Then different wars but the same humane, if you only teach American history, only the American President FDR liberal creed: ‘That philosophy of you end up with people who do not amongst western leaders bucked liberalism that combines a solu- think much beyond the boundaries that consensus of treating the tion to the questions of liberty and of America. This had ‘devastating recession as an act of inevitability, freedom – and sometimes, as John consequences’, Shirley Williams introducing instead a liberal and Stuart Mill said, they oppose each argued, when the lessons of the Viet- democratic government to fight other, the freedom to and the free- nam War and the state the country that which other people viewed as dom from – you have to determine was left in were not applied to Iraq. inevitable.

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The USA is also responsible On Ireland, Williams questions, including very strong would have married Mrs for her views on coalition. Wil- reminded the audience that Ire- comments about the importance Khrushchev. liams revealed that initially she land was long a passion of Wil- of the party improving the Closing the meeting, Dun- would have preferred a minor- liam Gladstone. The tragedy diversity of its parliamentary can Brack reminded people of ity Conservative government, of his inability to secure home party in the Commons from the comment made by the dis- with a confidence and supply rule for Ireland was a heavy both Williams and Ashdown. tinguished historian and Liberal arrangement rather than a for- burden on Britain and Ireland’s The latter admitted to changing Democrat peer, the late Conrad mal coalition. However, she has subsequent histories. But, much his mind on the topic and is now Russell, that the party via its since changed her mind, draw- less well known is that when willing to support more radical predecessors was probably the ing on what she has seen in the in office Gladstone offered temporary measures if neces- oldest political party in the USA and the dangers it shows the Zulus a military alliance sary than he was when leader of world. This 350 years of history of ‘total political polarisation’ against the Boers. When he fell the party. is captured in the new history stopping the government from as prime minister the proposal Ashdown also retold a story of the party – to remember, to taking necessary action in an fell apart, with huge costs to of a meeting between Henry celebrate and to learn. economic crisis. As a result, she South Africa, too. On this Kissinger and Mao Zedong. now thinks forming a coalition point, Williams did not explic- Seeking to kindle a shared Dr Mark Pack worked at Liberal ‘was necessary and it was right itly say what the lessons for interest in history to smooth Democrat party HQ in 2000–07 … One had to make the politi- modern Liberal Democrats are, the business, Kissinger asked and has contributed as an author or cal system work, even if it was the implication was left hang- Mao what he thought would editor to eighteen books spanning painful and difficult to do so.’ ing in the air that it meant – at have happened if it had been history, politics and technology. He Finally, looking back a least some of the time – being Khrushchev and not John F. is Co-Editor of the most widely read century to Britain’s own his- willing to militarily support Kennedy who had been assas- Liberal Democrat blog, Lib Dem tory, Shirley Wiliams said the oppressed. What she did say sinated. Mao pondered before Voice (www. LibDemVoice.org). there were three failures of in conclusion was that history saying that he doubted that the Liberal Party in 1911: on matters, for ‘we must learn the nice, rich Greek ship owner 1 http://bit.ly/ashdown1986 gender, inequality and Ireland. lessons, even the painful ones, ‘It was appalling that Asquith and not make the same mistakes consistently refused to consider again’. suffrage for women,’ she said, In answers to questions from before stressing that in her the audience, Ashdown agreed view the party had made far that Gladstone’s love of thrift too little progress in improv- and voluntarism is still very ing the diversity amongst relevant – environmentalism is its MPs – and has a diversity a form of thrift and community Letters problem illustrated by the politics is based on volunta- near all-white audience for the rism. But community politics Liberal Prime Ministers fringe meeting. The success of is greater than voluntarism, for There was a reference in Kevin Leader in the Commons 1875– ‘zipping’ in introducing gender community politics must also Theakston’s article on ‘The 80 and later Liberal Unionist balance amongst the party’s be about shifting power. afterlives of former Liberal Leader in the Lords) spent MEP’s points the way, she said, Williams agreed, saying the Prime Ministers’ (Journal of Lib- Christmas Day 1862 in the towards the need for action in country was increasingly realis- eral History 71, summer 2011) to Confederate States of America, other areas. ing how unreal the New Labour Lord John Russell and his Scot- making eggnog for cavalry The second failure was economic boom had been, based tish second wife being given offices in General Robert E. shown by the so-called work- on unsustainable debt producing Pembroke House in Richmond Lee’s army. ers’ rebellion, fuelled by a a mirage which both the public Park, by Queen Victoria, for Further, not only was the dramatic drop in real wages. and the government believed in. their lifetime use. According 5th (Scottish) Earl of Rosebery As with gender, this source of For her thrift has a moral and to Amanda Foreman in her – who sat in the Lords as 2nd 1911 failure is a challenge for psychological purpose, making excellent A World on Fire (Allen (UK) Lord Rosebery, not as a the modern party too, with real us more happy, she thinks, given Lane/Penguin Books, London, Scottish representative peer – wages once again dropping. the costs of the anxiety that 2010/2011), Lord John, when created a Knight of the Thistle But on this issue Williams said comes from seeking ever-more Foreign Secretary in 1859–65, on resigning as Prime Minister the party was getting right, riches rather than enjoying what also had the use of Abergeldie in 1895, he was also created with its emphasis on a fairer you have. Castle (two miles from Bal- 1st (UK) Earl of Midlothian, tax system, keeping the 50 per On voluntarism, Williams moral Castle on Deeside) which etc., in the 1911 Coronation cent tax rate and increasing the again agreed with Ashdown, Prince Albert had leased for Honours. After the former basic rate income tax allow- pointing to the amazing care forty years from 1840. Appar- Prime Minister – who did not ance to £10,000. When she was that hospices provide, thanks to ently, it was at Abergeldie that attend the House of Lords after first elected in 1964, the ratio a system based on voluntarism. Lord John had useful informal 1911 – had a severe stroke in between the pay of the coun- Repeating her high profile talks, during the US Civil War, 1919, his son and heir – who try’s leading chief executives opposition to some aspects with Charles Francis Adams was briefly Liberal National and the average wage of people of the government’s health (son and grandson of US Presi- Secretary of State for Scotland who worked in manufacturing reforms, she nonetheless saw a dents), the Minister at the US in May-August 1945 – entered was about 8:1 she said; now it key role for such voluntarism. Legation in London. the House of Lords as 2nd (UK) has risen to over 80:1. ‘That’s The question and answer Incidentally, Amanda Earl of Midlothian although not just inequality: it is appall- session was rather taken over Foreman also advises that the his father survived until 1929. ing obscenity.’ by contemporary political Marquis of Hartington (Liberal (The family is descended from

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