For the study of Liberal, SDP and Issue 56 / Autumn 2007 / £6.00 Liberal Democrat history Journal of LiberalHI ST O R Y Great Liberals: the final four Duncan Brack and York Membery The search for the greatest Liberal Gladstone, Keynes, Lloyd George or Mill? David Dutton Liberal civil war Denbigh, Oldham and the 1935 election John Curtice Elections 2007 Analysis of the May 2007 elections Tomas Bech Madsen Radicalism and Liberalism in Denmark History of Det Radikale Venstre Paul Mulvey Individualist thought and radicalism J. C. Wedgwood’s battle against collectivism Liberal Democrat History Group Joint British Liberal Political Studies Group Conference, 19–21 January 2007 The BLPSG held its second grateful. It was once again the use of judicial review. He spent particularly welcome; look out conference between 19–21 largest gathering of historians, much of his talk explaining exactly for further details in future issues January 2007, at Birmingham political scientists and politicians, how and why this was done. of the Journal of Liberal History. In University Conference Centre. from across the UK and Europe, the mean time, the Group will be Elsewhere in the conference the Once again the conference was in who study the Liberal Democrats organising panels at conferences situation regarding the party’s a former stately home and offered in the UK for the academic year. of the Political Studies Association leadership, just one year on from the delegates a comfortable and The conference also helped and its Elections, Parties and Charles Kennedy’s departure, was rather grand setting. Dr Alistair enable the most in-depth study Opinion Polls sub-group amongst one of the many papers Clarke (who has now gone to of the Liberal Democrats to occur presented. Other conference Anyone interested in the work of Queen’s University, Belfast) and at an academic level in the UK. topics included Liberal Democrat the BLPSG should contact: Dr Colin Copus (Birmingham) Nevertheless the figure was tax policies; the state of the party were the local organisers, while down on the first year of those Dr Russell Deacon in 2007; campaigning, gender Dr Russell Deacon (University of attending. Convenor, British Liberal Political and candidate selection; the Wales Institute, Cardiff) acted once Studies Group The Saturday evening dinner was European Liberals; the Liberal more as the overall facilitator for addressed by John Hemming, Democrats in the forthcoming Centre for Humanities, Cardiff the running of the conference. MP for Birmingham Yardley, who Scottish and Welsh elections; and School of Education, University of Delegates came from eleven spoke on the topic of ‘How to deal Prime Ministers, leaders and other Wales Institute Cardiff, Cyncoed, universities, including one from with issues of constitutional law important Liberal figures. Cardiff CF23 6XD France; there were nineteen in and the privileges of parliament’. The next BLPSG conference is Email: [email protected] total. It was sponsored mainly be Many readers will know that planned for the winter of 2008–09. the Political Studies Association, Hemming is a controversial Tel: 02920 417102 Political history papers will be for whom the group are most politician who specialises in the The Dictionary of Liberal Thought ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants’. Locke, Bentham, Mill, Hobhouse, Keynes, Rawls … Liberalism has been built on more than three centuries’ work of political thinkers and writers, and the aspirations of countless human beings who have fought for freedom, democracy, the rule of law and open and tolerant societies. In the first-ever such publication, the History Group’s Dictionary of Liberal Thought provides an accessible guide to the key thinkers, groups and concepts associated with liberalism –not only British but also European and American. The essential reference book for every thinking Liberal. Copies are available from the Westminster Bookshop, at its stand at Liberal Democrat conference, or at 8 Artillery Row, London SW1; www.westminsterbookshop.co.uk; price: £35. Copies are also available from the History Group stand at Lib Dem conference: special price £28 for Journal subscribers. 2 Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 Journal of Liberal History Issue 56: Autumn 2007 The Journal of Liberal History is published quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group. ISSN 1479-9642 The search for the greatest Liberal 4 Editor: Duncan Brack The final stage of the History Group’s ‘Great Liberals’ contest. Profiles of the Assistant Editor: Lysianne Egan final four contestants byDuncan Brack and York Membery. Biographies Editor: Robert Ingham Reviews Editor: Dr Eugenio Biagini Deputy Reviews Editor: Tom Kiehl Liberal civil war: Denbigh, Oldham and the 1935 8 election Patrons David Dutton examines two constituencies where Liberals and Liberal Dr Eugenio Biagini; Professor Michael Freeden; Nationals fought each other in 1935. Professor John Vincent Elections 2007 17 Editorial Board John Curtice analyses the outcomes of the local, Scottish and Welsh elections Dr Malcolm Baines; Dr Roy Douglas; Dr Barry Doyle; Dr of May 2007. What do they mean for the Liberal Democrats? David Dutton; Professor David Gowland; Dr Richard Grayson; Dr Michael Hart; Peter Hellyer; Dr Alison Holmes; Ian Hunter; Dr J. Graham Jones; Tony Little; Radicalism and Liberalism in Denmark 20 Professor Ian Machin; Dr Mark Pack; Dr Ian Packer; Dr The history of the Danish social liberal party, Det Radikale Venstre; by Tomas John Powell; Jaime Reynolds; Iain Sharpe Bech Madsen. Editorial/Correspondence Individualist thought and radicalism 26 Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles, and book reviews – are invited. The Journal is a refereed Josiah C. Wedgwood’s battle against the collectivists, 1906 – 1914; by Paul publication; all articles submitted will be reviewed. Mulvey. Contributions should be sent to: Duncan Brack (Editor) Letters to the Editor 33 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ Injustice to Asquith (John R. Howe); Watkin, Yarmouth and Exeter (Michael email: [email protected] Steed) All articles copyright © Journal of Liberal History. Religion, human rights and politics in 1906 and 34 Advertisements 2006 Full page £100; half page £60; quarter page £35. Alan Beith MP’s keynote speech to the Cambridge 1906 seminar. Discounts available for repeat ads or offers to readers (e.g. discounted book prices). To place ads, please contact the Editor. Report: Think Liberal – the Dictionary of Liberal 37 Thought Subscriptions/Membership With David Howarth MP and Michael Meadowcroft; report by Duncan Brack. An annual subscription to the Journal of Liberal History costs £20.00 (£12.50 unwaged rate). This includes membership of the History Group unless you inform Reviews 38 us otherwise. The institutional rate is £30.00. Non-UK Foot and Highet (eds.), Isaac Foot, reviewed by Robert Ingham; Brack and subscribers should add £5.00. Randall (eds.), Dictionary of Liberal Thought, reviewed by Eugenio Biagini; Online subscriptions cost £40.00 (individuals) or Brack (ed.), President Gore … and other things that never happened, reviewed by £50.00 (institutions). As well as printed copies, online Robert Ingham; Hichens, Prime Ministers’ Wives – and One Husband, reviewed subscribers will be able to access online copies of by J. Graham Jones; Grayson, Political Quarterly special issue on the Liberal current and all past Journals. Democrats, reviewed by Jeremy Hargreaves. Cheques (payable to ‘Liberal Democrat History Group’) should be sent to: Patrick Mitchell 6 Palfrey Place, London SW8 1PA; email: [email protected] Payment is also possible via our website, www.liberalhistory.org.uk. Liberal Democrat History Group The Liberal Democrat History Group promotes the discussion and research of topics Cover design concept: Lynne Featherstone relating to the histories of the Liberal Democrats, Liberal Party, and SDP, and of Liberalism. The Group organises discussion meetings and produces the Journal and other occasional Published by the Liberal Democrat History Group, c/o publications. 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ For more information, including historical commentaries, details of publications, back issues Printed by Kall-Kwik, of the Journal, and archive and other research sources, see our website at: 18 Colville Road, London W3 8DL www.liberalhistory.org.uk. September 2007 Chair: Tony Little Honorary President: Lord Wallace of Saltaire Journal of Liberal History 56 Autumn 2007 3 William Ewart Gladstone, David Lloyd George, John Maynard Keynes, John Stuart Mill – who is the greatest Liberal of all time? The Liberal thE SEARch FOR thE Democrat History Group’s poll for the greatest British Liberal in history is now entering its final stage. In July, Journal readers voted between fifteen potential candidates GREatEst LIBERal (plus an eclectic collection of write-ins). The result is given in summary below; the final four to emerge he case for each of the The first-stage ballot were Gladstone, Lloyd top four will be pre- Just under a hundred Journal George, Keynes and sented at the History readers voted in the first-stage Group’s fringe meet- ballot, over a fifth of our circu- Mill, with Asquith as ing at the autumn lation – not bad considering we TLiberal Democrat conference didn’t provide reply-paid enve- a fairly close runner- in Brighton (see back page for lopes. The count extended to up. In the next three details). Leading politicians and fourteen stages. The summary historians will make the case for result is given in the table; STV pages you will find each one of the four. aficionados can be sent a copy of concise biographies Enclosed with this Journal is the full count by emailing jour- a ballot paper, which if posted, [email protected]. of the four contenders must reach us no later than Tues- Journal readers were highly in the final stage, put day 18 September (it can also inventive in coming up with be emailed – see the paper for write-in candidates, including together by Duncan details).