The Slow Death of Liberal by Dr Russell Deacon 1906 – 1979

12 Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 The Slow Death of Liberal Wales 1906 – 1979

any parts of the this record to be fully reversed; by we see in their places under the United King- the general election of May 1979 guidance so generously provided dom can claim there was not one seat in Wales by the Principality of Wales.2 a strong Liberal which the party could claim had heritage. In some been held continuously since In the late 1940s and 1950s the Mareas such as the West Country, that great Edwardian landslide. Welsh Liberal MPs were so Liverpool and Scotland, Liberal- Although the same was also true closely tied up with keeping the ism once dominated, then disap- for the Liberals of both Scotland national party alive that there was peared rapidly but has since come and England, Liberal strength in little time for any clear distinc- back in sizeable strength. The case Wales was much stronger and the tions between the development of Wales is somewhat different. process of attrition in Wales much The case of Liberalism in Wales and that Liberalism survived here in con- slower than anywhere else. Table of Wales is occurring elsewhere. Yet at the siderable vigour for several dec- 1 shows that Liberal strength in same time in Wales Liberalism ades after it had almost vanished Wales was far in excess of any somewhat was rapidly fading, in part aided elsewhere in Britain; in a number other region of the United King- by the fact that its MPs were also of Welsh constituencies it pro- dom in 1906. It was the only part different. having to dedicate so much time vided post-war British Liberalism of the UK to hold a significant to ensuring the survival of the with some of its best opportu- Liberal presence in the post-war Liberalism national party. nities for recovery. In the event, election of 1945 right up until survived however, there was no significant the 1959 general election. revival, and this article therefore Without the Welsh Liberal here in The strength of Welsh looks at the main reasons behind presence of the immediate post- Liberalism what can justly be described as war era it is difficult to see how consider- The Welsh historian K.O. Mor- ‘the slow death of Liberal Wales’. the wider Liberal Party in Brit- gan noted of Liberalism in Wales ain could have survived. On 7 able vigour between 1880–1914 that it ‘per- March 1950, a former Liberal MP for several meated Welsh life at every point How Liberal was Wales? acknowledged Welsh Liberal- during this period. Every major In 1906 the Welsh Liberals ism’s importance in the House of decades transformation in Welsh life owed achieved an electoral feat in Wales Commons; , in something to it.’3 As we noted at that had never been seen before replying to the Liberals upon an after it the start the ultimate evidence and has never been seen since. issue of policy, said: of Welsh Liberal domination Thirty-three of Wales’s thirty-four had almost occurred in 1906 when the Welsh parliamentary seats were taken by I must guard myself carefully vanished Liberals gained a massive 97 per MPs who took the Liberal Whip against any suggestion of uttering cent of all Welsh parliamentary in Parliament.1 The Liberals had what are called blandishments to elsewhere seats. From the opening up of the MPs in every constituency in the nine representatives of the franchise via the Electoral Reform Wales. It took seven decades for Liberal Party, most of whom in Britain. Acts of the nineteenth century,

Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 13 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

Table 1: Percentage of Liberal seats held by region in the general elections nity and subsequently a perma- of 1906, 1945 and 1959 nent split.

1906 1945 1959 County of London 64 0 0 Who were Welsh Liberals? From the late 1880s onwards Rest of the South of England 69 1.6 0.5 Welsh Liberal parliamentary rep- North of England 66 1.1 1.2 resentation consisted of mainly Midlands 67 0 0 Welsh-born non-public-school- Wales 97 17 8 educated men drawn either Scotland 82 0 1.4 from the legal profession or from business. They were also mainly Northern Ireland 16 0 0 nonconformist in religion and University 0 14* n/a had become considerably more * University of Wales seat nationalist in outlook than their Source: David Butler and Gareth Butler, Twentieth-Century British Political Facts 1900–2000 predecessors.7 After the Second (Macmillan 2000), pp. 240–41 World War, Welsh Liberal MPs were to come predominantly Welsh Liberalism had developed Lloyd George’s People’s Budget, from backgrounds connected to cover virtually every shade of the exemption of working men’s with the legal world. Although political opinion present in Wales. clubs from Sunday closing laws the most famous Welsh Liberal Stuart Rendel, the first Chair of and the repeal of the anti-trade MP was a the newly formed ‘Welsh Parlia- union law. These all appealed to solicitor, Liberal MPs were nor- mentary Party’ in a speech on 28 those working-class voters who mally barristers-at-law. Of the June 1892 to his constituency at would later endorse Labour in nine Welsh Liberal MPs elected Newtown, defined the nature of such vast numbers. between 1945 and 1979 five were the Welsh Liberal MPs: Liberals were the friends of the barristers. Between 1951 and capitalists. For the politics of the 1974 only barristers-at-law repre- There is undoubtedly a Welsh businessmen there was the pro- sented all Welsh Liberalism in the Party, that Party is not made of capitalist and free-trade talk House of Commons. Many failed one pattern of man, any more of the Liberal industrialists of candidates also came from the than it is made up on men of one , Newport and Swansea. same background, notably Mar- height, or one age; it has diverse ‘Capitalist’ Liberal MPs such as tin Thomas QC,8 Sir Alan Talfan elements which contribute to its shipping-line owner Sir W H Davies QC9 and Winston Rod- strength, aye and its unity. The Seager (Cardiff East), chemi- dick QC.10 Even today three of creation of a Welsh Party is an cal industrialist Sir Alfred Mond the five Welsh Liberal Democrat accomplished fact.’4 (Swansea West and later Car- peers are still barristers.11 marthenshire) and coal mine The reason why barristers Across Wales voters could see and railway owner David Davies dominated the Welsh party to that: (Montgomeryshire) helped gain such a large degree was that in a Liberals were Welsh nationalists. the anti-socialist vote. party that was always limited in The Liberals inspired the Welsh Whilst this ability to rep- funding and fundraising they had nationalist political group Cymru resent all people in Wales was their own resources.12 In addi- Fydd (The Wales To Be). It was maintained, the Welsh Liberal tion when it came to both get- supported by and David hegemony could continue. The ting selected and the campaign Lloyd George, and for a time, glue that for a long time held the trail their court appearances had Welsh Liberals even referred to different Liberal strands together ensured that they were great themselves as the Welsh National concerned their opposition to public speakers. The downside Party in the House of Commons.5 what Welsh Liberal demonology of having MPs who were also They drew their massive politi- referred to as the ‘Unholy Trin- practising barristers was that their cal support from the very same ity’6 – the brewers (temperance) legal careers were built at the North, Mid- and West Wales con- the bishops (disestablishment of expense of their political work. stituencies that now elect mainly the church) and the squires (ten- The problem of the ‘part-time MPs. ant land reform). Another part of MPs’ became an issue which the Liberals were the friends of the the bond of unity was the issue political opposition was only too working classes (urban and rural). of free trade, of particular impor- happy to highlight at election For working-class political aspi- tance in the elections of 1906 time. This was particularly true rations the Liberals provided the and 1923. Free trade was, how- for Cardigan’s disestablishment of the church ever, a two-edged sword that in whose opponents always referred in Wales, agricultural reforms, 1931 also brought the party disu- to him as the part-time MP.

14 Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

The causes of the slow political party in Wales.16 This December general election of death of Liberal Wales cosy relationship ended in the 1910 (see Table 3), and only in the Four main reasons can be identi- general election of January 1910, Merthyr Tydfil and Gower seats fied for the slow death of Liberal when the Lib-Labs became fully- were these losses not the result of Wales. fledged Labour candidates as a Lib-Labs transferring fully over result of the Miners’ Federation to the Labour Party. In Decem- 1) The end of the electoral pact with affiliating to the Labour Party. ber 1910 the Liberals still held as Labour In the elections of 1910, how- many seats as they had in 1900, The first major cause of Lib- ever, the legacy of the electoral and with the exception of Rad- eral seat losses started two dec- pact still held sway, and only a nor all had majorities of close to ades before Welsh Liberalism few seats, such as Gower, Swansea 10 per cent or more. Despite this reached its zenith. In 1885 the Town and Mid-Glamorgan, saw Liberal command of the Welsh first Labour/Liberal (Lib-Lab) direct Labour – Liberal contests political scene the seeds had candidate in the UK, William in the December 1910 election. been sown for Labour’s political Abraham (known as ‘Mabon’13), In these seats, with the excep- growth. Their growth was now to was elected in the Rhondda tion of the Gower, the Liberals be rapid and in the next decade constituency. Mabon, a miners’ secured substantial majorities over they would challenge the Liber- agent, was elected with a major- their Labour opponents. This was, als directly for the political domi- ity of 867 votes (12.6 per cent) however, to be the last election in nance of Wales. over the Liberal candidate Fre- which the pact or its legacy held derick Lewis Davies. Despite sway. By 1912, even in Merthyr 2) The First World War and the ina- Mabon taking the Liberal whip, Tydfil, where Lib-Labs had bility of Welsh Liberals to adjust to therefore not technically depriv- worked so well together, plans the competition from socialism ing the Liberals of a seat, he did were afoot to end the pact. As the The First World War had a provide the first clear example next election was on the horizon dramatic impact on Welsh Lib- of a candidate standing under the Merthyr Liberals abandoned eral fortunes. Many of the Lib- a Labour banner being able the unofficial electoral agreement eral pacifists and idealists left the to defeat a Liberal in a straight not to stand a candidate against party forever over issues related fight.14 His dominance of the Keir Hardie. to the war. Later on the party Rhondda was also aided by the The Welsh working-class tra- split between those who sup- fact that no Liberal candidate dition of voting Liberal aided ported Prime Minister David ever stood against Mabon after by the Liberals embracing some Lloyd George and those who his election in 1885 until his socialist ideals in welfare policy stayed with former Prime Min- death in 1922. enabled Liberalism to remain ister H. H. Asquith. Wales stayed The direct threat of the firmly in control of the electoral firmly in the Lloyd George camp, Labour Party to Welsh Liberal- situation prior to the First World due mainly to his own personal ism took a while arriving. In War (see Table 2). Only five seats dominance and background in 1900 there were just two direct were technically lost to Labour Welsh Liberalism. Such was Lloyd contests between Liberals and by the Liberals at the time of the George’s supremacy in Wales that the Independent Labour Party, in the Gower and in Merthyr Tyd- Table 2: The Welsh Liberals’ electoral record 1900–10 fil. Keir Hardie was elected in Merthyr Tydfil but John Hodge Election year Percentage of Welsh Percentage of votes Percentage of seats in the Gower did not gain seats won contested enough support even from his 1900* 77 53.4 97 own party during the election to 1906* 97 52.5 100 beat the Liberal candidate.15 For 1910 (Jan) 79 51.1 88 a while after this, direct com- petition between Liberals and 1910 (Dec) 76 47.6 91 Labour was kept to a minimum, * Includes Lib-Labs due to the secret pact negotiated between Herbert Gladstone, the Liberal Chief Whip, and Ram- Table 3: Liberal losses to Labour 1900–10 say MacDonald, Secretary of the Seat Year of Loss Reason Labour Representation Com- Merthyr Tydfil (first seat) 1900 Won by Independent Labour Candidate mittee. The co-operation between Glamorgan South 1910 (Jan) Lib-Lab became Labour Labour and Liberals had the ben- Glamorgan Rhondda 1910 (Jan) Lib-Lab became Labour efit for Labour of making them, Gower 1906 Won by Lib-Lab candidate over Liberal after 1906, the second largest Monmouthshire West 1910 (Jan) Lib-Lab became Labour

Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 15 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979 when Asquith’s post-1924 general They moved on to syndicalism Whilst Liberalism in South election committee, chaired by and then to communism as their Wales was disappearing a new Sir Donald Maclean, went across ideology,20 something which generation of Welsh politicians Britain hearing complaints and Liberalism could never endorse. was emerging. Cymru Fydd22 gathering suggestions to restore With the electoral pacts over, the had produced a group of radi- Liberalism, its efforts to pen- 1918 ‘Coupon’ election saw the cal Welsh Liberal MPs of whom etrate Wales were rebuffed by Labour Party take almost a third Lloyd George was the most Lloyd George. Maclean was sim- of the seats in Wales, whilst the prominent. A generation later, ply informed that that the Welsh Coalition Liberals took just over young miners, railwaymen and could sort out their own house half. In the next general election steelworkers were studying at a without outside interference.17 (1922) the position was reversed, new centre of political change, Similarly, when Asquith lost his with Labour now holding more the Labour College (1919–28). own seat in 1924 and was offered than half the seats. Even when the They embraced the view of the the possibility of a safe seat in Liberals contested virtually every Welsh MP Keir Hardie, who Wales he declared to C.F.G. Mas- seat in Wales in 1929 they failed believed that the Celtic nations terman that ‘I’d sooner go to hell to gain more than a third of the of Britain ‘were peculiarly suited than Wales’.18 Welsh vote (see Table 4). to a socialist form of society’.23 Only a few Welsh MPs such as At the same time as Labour These new ‘Red Radicals’ cited Llewellyn Williams (Carmarthen was advancing electorally the the Welsh co-operative pioneer Boroughs) and David Davies Welsh Constituency Liberal Robert Owen and his disciple (Montgomery), who had fallen Associations, especially in the R. J. Derfel, the apostle of com- out with Lloyd George during industrial south, were collapsing munity socialism, as inspira- the war, did not follow him into entirely or at the best becoming tions to their own socialism.24 coalition with the Conservatives. inactive shadows of their former The radical Welsh Liberal MPs Others who had crossed Lloyd selves, as Liberal activists drifted such as Tom Ellis, David Lloyd George found themselves denied over to the Labour camp. As the George and Frank Edwards were the Coalition ‘Coupon’ during historian C.P. Cook noted:21 also seen as models for this new the general election of 1918. One breed of politicians.25 The new instance concerned the twin con- Many constituencies on the eve ‘Red Radicals’, including James stituencies of Arfon and Eifion, of the 1923 election presented a Griffiths,26 Idris Cox,27 Ness which were being merged into dismal sight: thus, in November Edwards,28 Aneurin Bevan29 and a single constituency of Caer- 1923 the Cardiff Liberals pos- Morgan Phillips,30 were to play nafonshire (county). The Arfon sessed no agent, no executive as important a part in shaping MP, Caradog Rees, stood down and no offices within the city. the Labour Party as Sir William allowing the Eifion MP Ellis W. At Merthyr, the Liberal organi- Harcourt, David Lloyd George Davies to be adopted as the new sation had collapsed; it was and did the Lib- Liberal candidate. Lloyd George, equally non-existent at New- eral Party. however, was totally opposed port. In Abertillery neither Lib- Initially these ‘Red Radicals’ to Davies and instead gave the eral nor Conservative had done in the Labour Party came from ‘Coupon’ to his supporter C.E. any propaganda work in the last outside the Liberal movement. Breeze. Davies consequently then twelve months. Likewise, noth- Over time, however, they were stood as an Independent Liberal ing had been heard of the Lib- to be joined by those who left and came third to Breeze with erals in the Bedwellty division; the Liberal movement itself. One Labour coming second.19 This although Bedwellty produced an of the first defections was that Lloyd George-inspired bitterness eleventh-hour Liberal in 1923, of the Liberal radical nationalist continued to lead to internal Lib- none had appeared in the con- MP of pre-war years, E.T. John eral party feuds in Wales, includ- stituency before then. (East ). John was a ing the infamous Cardigan 1921 by-election where Liberal fought Table 4: The Welsh Liberals’ electoral record 1918–29 Liberal as the only candidates in Election year Percentage of Welsh Percentage of votes Percentage of seats the contest. seats won contested The advance of socialism, 1918 (Coalition) 53 39.3 61 however, proved in the short term to be a greater threat to 1918 (Liberals) 6 9.7 25 Liberals in industrial Wales than 1922 (Coalition) 25 26.7 58 disunity within their own ranks. 1922 (Liberals) 6 7.6 33 The miners’ trade union lead- 1923 Liberals* 33 36.9 89 ers distanced themselves from 1924 Liberals 31 31.1 69 the Lib-Lab party of Mabon 1929 Liberals 27 33.6 97 with its close links to Liberalism. * Includes one Independent Liberal win in Ceredigion

16 Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

Table 5: Liberal losses to socialism and the consequences of the break-up of coalition government

Seat Year of Loss Seat Year of Loss Aberavon 1922 Llanelli 1922 Aberdare 1918 Merthyr Tydfil 1922 Abertillery 1918 Neath 1922 Anglesey 1918 (1) Newport 1922 (by-election) Bedwellte 1918 Pontypool 1918 Caerphilly 1918 Pontypridd 1922 (byelection) Carnarfonshire 1922 (2) Swansea East 1922 Ebbw Vale 1918 Wrexham (3) 1922

(1) Regained by the Liberals 1923 – 1951 (2) Regained by the Liberals 1923 – 1945 (3) Regained by the Liberals 1924 – 1929, 1931 – 1935

­passionate Liberal Welsh nation- unseat the King, to destroy the with ‘peevish resentment’. Lib- alist who then became a Labour family, to deny individuals their erals are expected to be the oxen Welsh nationalist – the prototype freedom, and to expel God from to drag Labour over the rough for the Labour Welsh nationalist his creation and His Son from roads of Parliament for two or candidates whom a generation the life of humanity.32 three years, and at the end of later would defeat the North West the journey, when there is no Wales Liberal MPs. Even up until the mid 1960s further use of us, we are to be A generation on from E.T. many remaining Welsh Liberals slaughtered.35 John one of these Labour- continued to regard ‘Socialism as defeated Liberal MPs in turn akin to Satanism’.33 Sir Alfred Mond wrote to Lloyd defected to the Labour Party, The Liberals failed to com- George in 1923 that Labour was in what was perhaps the most pete with the radical and revolu- coming to regard the South Wales damaging blow ever to occur to tionary appeal of Labour had to coalfields as ‘the Eldorado of their North Wales Liberal fortunes. the working classes. Many of the Utopian hopes’.36 Lloyd George’s On 26 April 1955, amongst much working-class voters in South attempts deal with socialism was publicity, and North Wales had come to try to radicalise Liberal policy announced her conversion to the in from England and had lit- through his rural and industrial Labour Party. Megan had always tle connection with the Chapel polices, the Yellow and Green insisted she was a ‘radical’. She, or much sympathy for Welsh Books. This did not, however, together with her fellow and its aspirations. result in success at the ballot box radical, , and every Whilst Liberalism offered incre- and only succeeded in driving Sir other Parliamentary Liberal radi- mental change, Labour offered Alfred Mond (Carmarthen) and cal, had lost their seats by 1951. As the revolutionary quick fix. The other anti-socialist elements of the electorate no longer seemed miners and steelworkers were his own Welsh party directly into ready to endorse any Liberal radi- in the mood for a revolutionary the arms of the Conservatives or, cal MP for a place at Westmin- change, which their leaders saw later on, to the National Liberals. ster, for Megan and some other as taking place either through The legacy of the First World Liberal radicals, joining Labour Communist revolution or at War, the rise of socialism and the was no longer a problem. She the very least the Labour Party. collapse of the coalition govern- declared that: ‘in the changed At the same time Labour built ment helped the Liberals lose a situation of today it is only in the up its campaigning presence in massive sixteen seats in Wales (see Labour Party that I can be true to all Welsh constituencies.34 As a Table 5). The Labour leader James the radical position’.31 result the working-class vote was Ramsay MacDonald’s victory in With the Welsh Liberal radicals increasingly sucked into Labour’s Aberavon in 1922 was symbolic removed, the grasp. Even knowing how to of the passing of South Wales from came under the control of those behave with their former politi- Liberal into Labour hands. Here who had little time for socialism. cal allies was a dilemma for Welsh he pushed the Coalition Liberals, The Reverend W.F. Phillips, part Liberals. On 22 April 1924, Lloyd who had previously held the seat, of Liberal nonconformity, had George summed up the dilemma into third place behind the Con- summed up their thoughts about to his Caernafonshire constitu- servatives. Whilst some of those Labour and socialism in 1913: ents when he said: seats lost in 1922, such as Angle- sey, Carnarfonshire and Swansea What is Socialism? Socialism is If we dare to criticise the Labour East, were regained again, most a social revolution which is to Government then we are visited were not.

Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 17 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

3) The splits within the Liberal Party Nationals first, and all the Whig- only to reunite with him again and the failure of the Welsh party gish element afterwards, and the but too late for his reselection machine sooner they go the better.38 in the 1935 general election; the After the impact of the Labour Conservatives then won the seat. Party on Liberal electoral for- Both the Flintshire Liberals and Lewis Jones stayed at Westminster tunes, continued and new splits other North Wales Liberal Exec- for another decade, but in 1945 within the Liberal Party were to utives, such as Denbighshire, he lost his Swansea West seat and help remove a substantial number refused to endorse the Liberal failed to regain it in 1950. Jones of the Liberals’ remaining seats. National candidates. Apart from therefore became the last ‘Lib- The first major divide, between the fall in the number of con- eral’ MP for a seat in South Wales Asquithian and Lloyd Georgite tested seats, however, the civil war until Jenny Willot gained Cardiff Liberals, did not cause much of of the 1931 general election had Central in the May 2005 general a problem in Wales, and ended no immediate impact; there were election. in 1923.37 Eight years later a no Liberal National – Liberal Clashes between Liberals and new civil war, with more severe contests in Wales. In 1935, how- Liberal Nationals proved to be repercussions, broke out, as the ever, splits opened up in Welsh the most destructive for the post- 1929–31 MacDonald Labour Liberalism which would never be war Liberal Party in Denbigh. government broke up over the healed. One example was in Den- As noted earlier, Morris-Jones problems caused by the Great bigh where the Liberal National beat the Liberal candidate by Depression. The problems of Dr J.H. Morris Jones wrote of the 5043 votes in 1935, as the Con- whether to support socialism or selection: servative vote went directly to seek to defeat it split the right of him – an outcome which was the Liberal Party from the left in The Liberal feud in Denbigh repeated in 1945, when Morris- Wales and elsewhere. In Septem- intensified … After a boister- Jones beat the Liberal candidate ber 1931, Sir John Simon left the ous two hours’ meeting my After the E.H. into second party with nineteen other right- friend (former Denbigh Coali- place. At the next election Gar- wing Liberals. A further split tion Liberal MP John Cledwyn impact of ner Evans himself defected to the between Lloyd George and the (J.C) Davies) was adopted as Liberal Nationals and Conserva- remaining Liberals who followed the Liberal candidate by sixty- the Labour tives and beat the Liberal Glyn Sir Herbert Samuel, led to three six against forty-two. When the Party on Tegai Hughes by just 1209 votes Liberal factions fighting the 1931 atmosphere had become a little (2.7 per cent). This close contest general election, though in Wales calmer, I said: ‘The vote has gone Liberal made Denbigh the only National all the Liberal factions combined against me in this room. I shall Liberal40 – Liberal marginal seat only fought 20 of the 36 seats now appeal to the electors.’ All electoral in the country. Right up until (they had fought 35 as a com- my forty-two supporters, includ- the general election of 1959 the bined party in 1929). ing the Chairman, my agent, Mr fortunes, National Liberal and Conserva- Across Wales the splits between Sydney Watkins, and other offic- contin- tive candidate in Denbigh was the Simonities, who now stood as ers remained behind. We formed able to take enough Liberal votes Liberal Nationals, and the Samu- ourselves into an Election Com- ued and to ensure that they could not elites, who stood as Liberals, was mittee. The fight was on. The reclaim their former seat. Until its to cause havoc in the Liberal Conservatives meeting the next new splits demise in the boundary changes Associations. The leading North day unanimously endorsed my of 1983 Denbigh remained the Wales Liberal and friend of Lloyd candidature.39 within the best example of the Welsh Liberal George, Thomas Waterhouse, Liberal phoenix refusing to rise from the stated that in Flintshire: Morris-Jones won his Denbigh ashes of North Wales Liberalism. seat with a 5043 (14.5 per cent) Party were There was to be one further We have too many Whigs left in majority over Davies. Three other footnote to the Liberal Nation- the Liberal Party. We want a radi- Welsh Liberal Nationals – Fred- to help als’ toll of Welsh Liberal seats. cal programme and to go forward erick Llewellyn-Jones (Flintshire), In 1945 with courage. The great word Lewis Jones (Swansea West) and remove a (Pembroke) stood as a ‘Liberal ‘Liberal’ has been prostituted by Clement Davies (Montgomery- substantial National and Conservative’ and men like Sir John Simon with shire) – won their seats without did not leave the wartime coa- their ‘Liberal Nationals’. The Liberal opposition. Only Mont- number lition government, like his fel- Liberal Nationals were out to gomeryshire eventually returned low Liberal and Labour MPs. destroy the Liberal Party. Their to the Liberal fold. Flintshire was of the Although Gwilym continued intention at the next election is finally lost when the Liberal Party to receive copies of the Lib- secured with Conservative votes. Constituency Executive fell out Liberals’ eral whip until 1946 and fought To-day we are fighting from with the popular incumbent MP remaining under the ‘Liberal and Conserva- within the party to Radicalise it Llewellyn-Jones over his deci- tive’ banner in 1950, with a great … we want rid of all the Liberal sion to join the Liberal Nationals, seats. emphasis on the ‘Liberal’ part of

18 Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

Table 6: The Welsh Liberals’ electoral record 1935–50 of the Welsh seats; in 1964 this proportion went up to one third, Election year Percentage of Welsh Percentage of votes Percentage of seats but it fell back again in 1966 to seats won contested just over a quarter. In contrast to 1931 (Coalition) 11 6.9 11 the Liberals, in 1966, Labour and 1931 (Liberals) 11 14.6 31 the Conservatives were now con- 1931 (Lloyd George) 11 6.6 11 testing all Welsh seats, and even 1935 (Liberal National) 8.3 4.1 8.3 Plaid Cymru fought over half. 1935 (Liberals) 19.4 18.3 36 Such a poor record of electoral competition, combined with the 1945 (Liberals) 19.4 15.2 48 loss of Cardigan in the general 1945 (Liberal National) 8.3 4.8 11 election of 1966 and the failure 1950 (Liberals) 14 12.6 58 once again to regain Carmarthen 1950 (National Liberal 2.7 6.4 17 in the 1966 by-election, spurred and Conservative) the remaining Liberals to end the reign of the Welsh Federations, Table 7: Liberal losses to splits or defections within the party and they were united together under the federal Welsh Liberal Seat Year of Loss Reason Party banner in September 1966. University of Wales 1923 (1) Two Liberal factions split the vote – Labour wins the seat Although this did not end inter- Cardigan 1923 (2) Independent Liberal wins seat nal party differences, it did make Carmarthen 1926 (3) Liberal defects to Conservatives them considerably less public Pembroke 1945 Liberal defects to Liberal National and helped bring the number of Welsh Liberal candidates for the Denbigh 1931 Liberal National wins seat 1970 general election up to just Flint 1931 Liberal National wins seat over 50 per cent. Montgomery 1931 (4) Liberal National wins seat Swansea West 1931 Liberal National wins seat 4) The arrival of Plaid Cymru and Carmarthen 1957 Liberal defector to Labour wins seat the withering away of the remaining Welsh Liberals (1) Regained by Liberals 1924–50 In 1931 eight Welsh Liberal (2) Independent Liberal became Liberal 1924–66, 1974–92, 2005 – present (3) Regained by Liberals 1931–35, 1945–57 MPs (other than Liberal Nation- (4) Liberal National becomes Liberal 1942–79, 1983 – present als) remained. Four Samuelites were elected: R. T. Evans (Car- his nomination, he never again 1890s the South Wales Federation marthen), attended a Liberal parliamentary rejected the opportunity to unite (Cardigan), Ernest Evans (Uni- meeting.41 Another Welsh con- with the North Wales Federation versity of Wales) and H. Hadyn stituency had been lost to Welsh as one mass Welsh party under Jones (Meirionnydd). Of these Liberalism. In 1938 his father had Cymru Fydd. After this rejection seats, the University of Wales seat predicted that ‘Gwilym will go there was little trust between the was to stay with the Liberals until to the right and Megan to the two federations and although they its abolition in 1950. Carmarthen, left’,42 and just a few months after were nominally under the Welsh Meironnydd and eventually Car- his own death this prophecy was Liberal Council, and then the digan were to fall to Labour and beginning to come true. Liberal Party of Wales’ umbrella, later on to Plaid Cymru. The loss The Liberals lost nine seats in both went their separate ways on of seats in Carmarthen and Cardi- Wales as a direct result of splits matters of policy and campaign- gan was aided by the withdrawal within the party (see Table 7). ing. Both federations would issue of the Conservative agreement Although seats like Cardigan, contradictory statements and not to contest these seats, which Carmarthen, Montgomery and policies throughout their exist- channelled anti-socialist votes the University of Wales would ence, much to the frustration of back to the Conservatives. come back into the fold, the oth- Welsh Liberal MPs. The South The rise of Plaid Cymru posed ers would not. was also particularly reluctant to something of a puzzle to Welsh One additional factor involv- put forward candidates in elec- Liberals. In the late nineteenth ing divisions within the party tions, preferring instead to bide century the leading Welsh Lib- needs to be touched upon –the its time for the ‘right candidate or eral MP Henry Richard had seen divide between the North and right moment’ on which to spend Liberalism and Welsh national- South Wales Liberal Federa- its sparse resources.43 ism as going hand in hand. As tion which continued from their As a result of rivalries and poor K.O. Morgan noted: ‘To a marked foundation in the late 1880s to electoral ambitions, in 1959 the degree, Liberalism and national- their dissolution in 1966. In the Liberals contested under a quarter ism were fused, and in a real sense

Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 19 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

Table 8: Welsh Liberal seats lost to Labour due to the ending of two-party more concern and they became contests which in turn fell to Plaid Cymru much more of a perceived threat to the Liberal vote. When Plaid Seat Year of loss Fell to Labour Fell to Plaid Cymru Cymru’s con- Anglesey 1951 1951 (1) 1987 (2) tested Meirionnydd in 1945 Caernarfon Boroughs 1945 1945 1974 he gained 2448 votes (10.8 per Cardigan 1966 (3) 1959 1992 cent), more than twenty times the Carmarthen 1957 1957 1966 newly elected Liberal MP Emrys Roberts’ 112 (0.4 per cent) vote Merionnydd 1951 1951 1974 majority. At the time, Liberals (1) Fell to Conservatives in 1979 viewed Plaid Cymru’s votes as (2) Regained by Labour at Westminster in 2001 but held by Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly coming straight off their own, and election of 2003 (3) Regained by Liberals 1974–92 and 2005 when Plaid failed to stand in seats it was felt that their vote would automatically go to the Liberals. Table 9 : In these seats Welsh Liberals lost due to the ending of two-party Welsh Liberals, after all, also had contests a pedigree as a ‘Welsh National- Seat Year of loss End of two-party contest or ist Party’ and were at the heart of unopposed seat Welsh political movements such Cardiff East 1922 1910 (January) as the Campaign for a Welsh Par- Swansea West 1923 (1) 1910 (December) liament. In 1951 Plaid Cymru did not stand in Meirionnydd but the Flint 1924 (2) 1924 Liberal MP Emrys Roberts still Brecon and Radnor 1924 (3) 1924 lost the seat to Labour. The Plaid Pembroke 1924 (4) 1923 vote went directly to Labour as Montgomeryshire 1979 (5) 1951 nationalist voters supported a (1) Regained by Liberals 1924–29, Liberal Nationals 1931–45 socialist Labour Party rather than (2) Regained by Liberals 1929–31, Liberal Nationals 1931–45 a nationalist Liberal Party. After (3) Regained by Liberals 1985–92, 1997 – present the election wrote (4) Regained by Liberals 1929–50 to Emrys Roberts: ‘I thought that (5) Regained by Liberals 1983–present with no nationalist standing you were safe. It seems to have been Table 10: The Welsh Liberals’ electoral record 1951–79 a most cruel stroke that Labour should have gained the votes.’47 Election year Percentage of Percentage of Percentage of One Liberal member, however, seats won votes seats contested laid the blame for the defeat 1951 (Liberal National and 3 3.3 6 directly at the Liberal Party’s own Conservative) door: 1951 (Liberals) 8 7.7 25 1955 (Liberals) 8 7.3 27 It’s all very well blaming Plaid 1955 (Liberal National and 3 3.2 11 Cymru, but the truth is that Conservative) we have not kept our organisa- 1959 (Liberals) 6 5.3 22 tion in order. We did less work 1959 (Liberal National and 3 3 8.3 than any other parties between Conservative) elections and therefore a lot of 1964 (Liberals) 6 7.3 33 blame should be placed on the Liberals of Meirionnydd, myself 1966 (Liberals) 3 6.3 28 included.48 1970 (Liberals) 3 6.8 53 1974 (Liberals) [Feb] 6 16 86 The Liberals pulled themselves 1974 (Liberals) [Oct] 6 15.5 100 together in Meirionnydd and 1979 (Liberals) 3 10.6 78 for the next three elections were within a whisper of taking the the Liberals were the party of had followed for generations.45 seat from Labour. In the 1970 Wales and the reason for its grow- There were even some attempts general election Plaid Cymru’s ing national consciousness’.44 to form a Liberal – Plaid Cymru Dafydd Wigley took the second Liberals therefore felt initially alliance in the late 1950s and position, ahead of the Liberals, that Plaid Cymru was a benign 1960s.46 As Plaid contested more followed in 1974 by Dafydd Elis force, which followed the same seats in Welsh-speaking Wales Thomas taking the seat for Plaid course of the nationalism they their presence began to cause Cymru. The Liberal opportunity

20 Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979 in Meironnydd disappeared for- tive challenge to Labour. In time Liberal and West. This was not to occur, ever with Thomas’s victory. all these seats were to fall to Plaid though Meirionnydd, Denbigh Ironically, it was events in Mei- Cymru.51 For a time there seemed Wales was and Wrexham frequently became ronnydd that were also to cost the a chance of regaining Conwy, near-misses at general elections. Liberals their seat in Cardigan. where the Welsh-speaking ‘Welsh important At the general election of 1966, Towards the end of 1964 Elys- Nationalist’ Liberal candidate, the with the loss of Cardigan, the tan Morgan, who had previously Reverend Roger Roberts, pulled to the Brit- Welsh Liberals were reduced to stood for Plaid Cymru, defected the Liberals firmly into second ish Liberal just one seat, Montgomeryshire. to the Labour Party. The Liber- position behind the Conserva- One effect of this, however, was als viewed his departure from tives between 1983 and 1992. In Party as an attempt, in September 1966, Merionnydd as an indication that the event, however, the seat was to revitalise the old Liberal Party Plaid would not stand at the next to fall to Labour at the general a whole of Wales. The feuding North and election, giving them a chance to election of 1997 and to Plaid South Wales Liberal Federations gain Plaid votes and retake the Cymru at the Assembly election because were dissolved and merged into seat.49 Plaid did find another can- of 1999, which ironically repeated for a long the Welsh Liberal Party. In the didate, however, and the defector the pattern of the Liberals’ fate in decades that followed the Welsh Morgan went instead to contest all their Welsh-speaking seats (see while it Liberals continued to fight des- Cardigan as the Labour candidate. Table 8). perately to save their party from Here the Liberal MP Roderic Another problem for Welsh repre- political annihilation. Then, in Bowen had fallen out with his Liberals was that their core vote 1974, the Liberals regained Cardi- parliamentary colleagues over was quickly weakened by multi- sented gan, their first successful electoral whether he should become the party competition; the greater the one of the fightback since 1945. In 1979, Speaker. He had been groom- competition the greater the dis- Montgomeryshire, the last Lib- ing himself for this position for solution of the Liberal vote. Some most solid eral seat to remain constantly in a number of years, which only Liberal seats fell as soon as they Liberal hands since 1906, fell to added to his constituency repu- were exposed to more than one bastions the Conservatives;52 once more tation as something of an ‘absen- other political party (see Tables the Liberals were reduced to just tee landlord’ MP; by 1964 he 8 and 9). Anglesey, for instance, of Liberal one seat, Cardigan. But they still had reduced the former Liberal was won by a 1081 (4.4 per cent) support. retained a foothold in Wales. stronghold to a Liberal – Labour majority in 1945; the 1950 elec- Welsh Liberalism had once marginal.50 Elystan Morgan was tion saw the intervention of the seemed indomitable, and indeed to remove Bowen from political Conservatives with the Liber- it was the only area of the United life for good by 523 votes (1.7 als still holding on, but the 1951 Kingdom where it was not totally per cent) in 1966. Although eight election saw a doubling of the extinguished in the twentieth years later the ‘Welsh Nationalist’ Conservative vote in the seat and century. Over the course of three- Liberal was to its loss by the Liberals to Labour. quarters of a century, 1906–79, win the seat back from Labour it The pattern was repeated again the Welsh Liberals were squeezed was once again lost in 1992, this and again in Wales; Liberals did between the rising tides of social- time to Plaid Cymru. The seat not have enough loyal voters to ism in the form of Labour, Welsh remained a two-party competi- sustain them in three- or four- Nationalism in the form of Plaid tion between Plaid Cymru and party competitions. It was not Cymru and the varying fortunes the Liberal Democrats – the only until the 1970s that the Welsh of the Conservatives in Wales. such former Liberal seat in Welsh- Liberal vote began to rise again Internal feuds which took the speaking Wales to do so – and was (see Table 10). anti-socialist Liberals off into regained for Liberalism by Mark the National Liberals and Con- Williams in 2005. servatives further undermined Three other Liberal MPs held Conclusions the party. That it survived at all seats in Welsh-speaking Wales as Liberal Wales was important to was due partially to the ability of members of the Lloyd George the British Liberal Party as a Welsh Liberal barrister MPs, such ‘family group’ in 1931: David whole because for a long while as Alex Carlile, Clement Davies (Caernarfon Boroughs) Megan it represented one of the most and Emlyn Hooson personally (Anglesey) and Major Goronwy solid bastions of Liberal support. to support the Welsh party. It was Owen (Caernarfon), who had At various times it also helped also down to other politicians and married Gwilym’s sister-in-law. provide the party’s parliamentary Welsh party organisers, including Caernarfon Boroughs and Caer- leadership. Throughout the 1950s Geraint Howells, Martin Thomas, narfon were lost in 1945 and and 1960s, although the Liberals Roger Roberts and Richard Liv- Anglesey in 1951. In these seats, or had all but abandoned industrial sey, who were cultured in the val- their successor seats, within a dec- South Wales, there was the hope ues of Liberalism and did not seek ade of their loss the Liberals were that Liberal Wales would once another political party to fulfil no longer able to mount an effec- again return if only in the North their own aspirations.53 In turn

Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 21 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979 they were able to pass the Liberal The Lib- Politics, 1890–1929, George Allen and 29 MP for Tredegar, founder of the baton on to a new generation of Unwin Ltd, 1971), p. 119. National Health Service and Mem- 8 Martin Thomas contested Wrexham ber of Attlee Government (1945–51), Liberal Democrat politicians who eral Wales five times. A founder of the Welsh hero of many Labour Socialists. have helped to stave off the threat Liberal Party in 1966, he held many 30 General Secretary of the Labour of imminent electoral extinction of Lloyd posts in the Welsh Liberal and Federal Party 1944–62. more effectively and, in 2005, to Liberal Party. He was ennobled Lord 31 Watkins, The Liberal Dilemma, p. 75. produce something of a mini- George Thomas of Gresford in 1996. 32 W.F. Phillips, Y Draig Goch Ynte’r Faner Liberal revival in the Westminster 9 Recorder at Crown Courts in Goch (Cardiff, 1913), p. 16. had indeed Merthyr, Swansea and Cardiff. He 33 , Lord Hooson 54 elections. was a passionate devolutionist and and Lord Thomas to author. The decline of Welsh fortunes faded but it served on the Kilibrandon Commis- 34 Parry, ‘Gwynedd Politics, 1900–1920: saw the leadership of the party sion which recommended a Parlia- The Rise of a Labour Party’. pass from Wales to Scotland in the took three- ment for Wales. He twice contested 35 Frank Owen, Tempestuous Jour- form of Jo Grimond, Carmarthen and then Denbigh, com- ney: Lloyd George His Life and Times quarters of ing second all three times. (Hutchinson, 1954), p. 678. and , and to the 10 Barrister and first Counsel-General 36 Morgan, Lloyd George, Family Letters West Country, in Jeremy Thorpe a century of the National Assembly for Wales, 1885–1936, p. 304. and . This only contested Anglesey in 1970, led the 37 Only two Liberal seats were lost as highlighted the successful revival to do so, general election campaigns in Wales result of the two Liberal factions for the Welsh Liberals in 1974 and splitting the vote: the University of of Liberal fortunes outside Wales. 1979 and was a leading light in the Wales to Labour and Cardigan to an The Liberal Wales of Lloyd far slower Welsh Liberal Summer Schools. Independent Liberal. Both came back George had indeed faded but it 11 Lord Livsey and Lord Roberts being into the Liberal fold in 1923. took three-quarters of a century than any- the exceptions. 38 Sian Jones, ‘The Political Dynamics of to do so, far slower than anywhere 12 Lords Hooson and Thomas to author. North East Wales, with special refer- where else. 13 William Abraham adopted the bardic ence to the Liberal Party 1918–1935’ else. It provided Welsh political name of Gwilym Mabon in 1869; he (Ph.D thesis, University of Bangor, history with the spectacle of – the was subsequently known by the sur- 2003), p. 218. slow death of Liberal Wales.55 name of Mabon. 39 Henry Morris-Jones, Doctor in the 14 Kenneth O. Morgan, Wales In British Whips’ Room (Robert Hale Limited, Dr Russell Deacon is a Reader in Politics 1868–1922 (University of Wales 1955), p. 100. Press, 1980), p. 187. 40 The Liberal Nationals became the and History at 15 Eddie May, ‘The Mosiac of Labour National Liberals in 1948. the Centre for Humanities, School of Politics, 1900–1918’ in Duncan Tan- 41 Western Telegraph and Cymric Times, 2 Lifelong Learning at the University ner et al, Labour Party in Wales 1900– March 1950, p. 8; and Jorgen Scott of Wales Institute, Cardiff. He is also 2000 (University of Wales Press, 2000), Rasmussen, The Liberal Party (Con- the Convenor for the British Liberal p. 74. stable, 1965), p. 11. 16 Ibid. 42 Andrew Sweeting, ‘Gwilym Lloyd- Political Studies Group. Dr Deacon 17 Trevor Wilson, The Downfall of the George’, in Duncan Brack et al, Dic- has published a number of books and Liberal Party 1914–1935 (Collins, 1968), tionary of Liberal Biography (Politicos, articles on Welsh political history and p. 318. 1998), p. 239. is currently writing a book on the 18 , Asquith (Collins, 1964), 43 North Wales Liberal Federation and History of the Welsh Liberal Paty p. 505. related Liberal correspondence held 19 Cyril Parry, ‘Gwynedd Politics, 1900– at the National Library of Wales’ (1868-1970). 1920: The Rise of a Labour Party’, political archives support this view Welsh History Review, Vol. 4, No.2 again and again, as did the author’s 1 The one MP in Wales who did not (1968) pp. 313–28. interviews with many former Liber- take the Liberal whip, Keir Hardie, 20 Davies, The Welsh Nationalist Party: A als of the pre-1966 period. was in a two-member constituency, Call to Nationhood, p. 12. 44 Kenneth. O Morgan, ‘The New Lib- Merthyr Tydfil; the other member, 21 C. P. Cook, ‘Wales and the Gen- eralism and the Challenge of Labour: David Alfred Thomas, was a Liberal eral Election of 1923’, Welsh History The Welsh Experience, 1885–1929’, MP. Review, Vol 4, No 2 (1968), p. 392. The Welsh History Review, June 1973, 2 Cited in Alan Watkins, The Liberal 22 The Welsh Nationalist movement of p. 290. Dilemma (MacGibben and Kee, 1966), the 1880s and 1890s that had almost 45 Glyn Tegai Hughes (Chairman of the p. 57. united the Welsh nation under one Liberal Party of Wales 1958–60) to 3 Kenneth O. Morgan, Rebirth of a nationalist Liberal political ban- author. Nation, Wales 1880–1980 (Oxford Uni- ner but had ended in failure and the 46 Glyn Tegai Hughes and Lord Hooson versity Press, 1982), p. 52. decline in nationalist fervour for sev- to author. 4 Graham V. Nelmes, ‘Stuart Rendel eral generations. 47 Andrew Edwards, ‘Political Change and Welsh Liberal Political Organi- 23 Davies, The Welsh Nationalist Party: A in North-West Wales 1960–1974: The sation in the Late Nineteenth Cen- Call to Nationhood, p.10. Decline of the Labour Party and the tury’, Welsh History Review, Vol 9, No 24 Tanner, D, Williams, C and Hopkins, Rise of Plaid Cymru’ (Ph.D thesis, 4, December 1979, p. 467. D, The Labour Party in Wales 1900 – Bangor University, 2002), p. 86. 5 Hywel D. Davies, The Welsh National- 2000, University of Wales Press, 2000 48 Ibid., p. 86. ist Party: A Call to Nationhood (Uni- 25 Ibid. 49 The Liberal News 15 October 1965, p. versity of Wales Press, 1983), p. 3. 26 MP for Llanelli, Member of the 7. 6 Kenneth O. Morgan, Lloyd George, Attlee Government (1945–51) and 50 J. Graham Jones, ‘Grimond’s Rival: Family Letters 1885–1936 (University the Wilson Government (1964–66), Biography of Roderic Bowen MP’, of Wales Press, Oxford University first Secretary of State for Wales. Journal of Liberal Democrat History Press, 1973), p.13. 27 Editor of the Daily Worker 1935–37. 34/35, Spring/Summer 2002, pp. 7 Kenneth O Morgan, The Age of Lloyd 28 MP for Caerphilly, Member of Attlee 26–33. George: The Liberal Party and British Government (1945–51). 51 Anglesey’s Westminster political

22 Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 the slow death of liberal wales 1906 – 1979

­history is mixed. It is the only Welsh Emlyn Hooson’s enthusiastic backing stronghold when they won Cere- seat to be held by all four main Welsh of Welsh devolution, which proved digion and Cardiff Central. In the political parties since 1945: Liberal to be an unpopular cause within process they replaced Plaid Cymru 1945–51, Labour 1951–83, Conserva- the constituency – Lord Hooson to as the official opposition to Labour tive 1983–87, Plaid Cymru 1987– author. in Wales, at Westminster. It was their 2001, Labour 2001–. 53 Russell Deacon, ‘Interview with best Welsh result since 1950. 52 A Liberal seat for nearly a century, Geraint Howells (1925–2004)’, Jour- 55 For a post-war history of the Welsh and the seat of Liberal leader (1945– nal of Liberal History 44, Autumn 2004, Liberal Party also see: J. Graham 56) Clement Davies, 1929–62. The pp, 22–23. Jones, ‘The Liberal Party and Wales, seat fell to the Conservatives due to 54 The May 2005 general election saw 1945–79’, The Welsh History Review, two main factors: the unpopularity the Welsh Liberal Democrats break Vol 16, No 3, June 1993. of the Lib–Lab Pact of 1977–78, and out of their Powys Westminster

RESEARCH IN PROGRESS If you can help any of the individuals listed below with sources, contacts, or any other information — or if you know anyone who can — please pass on details to them. Details of other research projects in progress should be sent to the Editor (see page 3) for inclusion here.

Hubert Beaumont MP. After pursuing candidatures in his native Liberals and the local government of London 1919–39. Chris Northumberland southward, Beaumont finally fought and won Eastbourne Fox, 173 Worplesdon Road, Guildford GU2 6XD; christopher.fox7@ in 1906 as a ‘Radical’ (not a Liberal). How many Liberals in the election virgin.net. fought under this label and did they work as a group afterwards? Lord Recruitment of Liberals into the Conservative Party, 1906–1935. Beaumont of Whitley, , London SW1A 0PW; beaumontt@ Aims to suggest reasons for defections of individuals and develop an parliament.uk. understanding of changes in electoral alignment. Sources include Letters of Richard Cobden (1804–65). Knowledge of the personal papers and newspapers; suggestions about how to get hold of whereabouts of any letters written by Cobden in private hands, the papers of more obscure Liberal defectors welcome. Cllr Nick Cott, 1a autograph collections, and obscure locations in the UK and abroad for a Henry Street, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 1DQ; N.M.Cott@ncl. complete edition of his letters. (For further details of the Cobden Letters ac.uk. Project, please see www.uea.ac.uk/his/research/projects/cobden). Dr Life of (1900–91). Roberts was Liberal MP for Anthony Howe, School of History, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 Cumberland North (now Penrith and the Border) from 1935 until 1950 7TJ; [email protected]. and came from a wealthy and prominent local Liberal family; his father Cornish Methodism and Cornish political identity, 1918–1960s. had been an MP. Roberts was a passionate internationalist, and was Researching the relationship through oral history. Kayleigh Milden, a powerful advocate for refugee children in the . His Institute of Cornish Studies, Hayne Corfe Centre, Sunningdale, Truro TR1 parliamentary career is coterminous with the nadir of the Liberal Party. 3ND; [email protected]. Roberts joined the Labour Party in 1956, becoming a local councillor in Carlisle and the party’s candidate for the Hexham constituency in Liberal foreign policy in the 1930s. Focusing particularly on Liberal the 1959 general election. I am currently in the process of collating anti-appeasers. Michael Kelly, 12 Collinbridge Road, Whitewell, information on the different strands of Roberts’ life and political career. Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim BT36 7SN; [email protected]. Any assistance at all would be much appreciated. John Reardon; Liberal policy towards Austria-Hungary, 1905–16. Andrew Gardner, [email protected]. 17 Upper Ramsey Walk, Canonbury, London N1 2RP; agardner@ssees. Student radicalism at Warwick University. Particulary the files affair ac.uk. in 1970. Interested in talking to anybody who has information about The Liberal revival 1959–64. Focusing on both political and social Liberal Students at Warwick in the period 1965-70 and their role in factors. Any personal views, relevant information or original material campus politics. Ian Bradshaw, History Department, University of from Liberal voters, councillors or activists of the time would be very Warwick, CV4 7AL; [email protected] gratefully received. Holly Towell, 52a Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds Welsh Liberal Tradition – A History of the Liberal Party in Wales LS6 3BJ; [email protected]. 1868–2003. Research spans thirteen decades of Liberal history in The rise of the Liberals in Richmond (Surrey) 1964–2002. Interested Wales but concentrates on the post-1966 formation of the Welsh in hearing from former councillors, activists, supporters, opponents, Federal Party. Any memories and information concerning the post- with memories and insights concerning one of the most successful local 1966 era or even before welcomed. The research is to be published organisations. What factors helped the Liberal Party rise from having no in book form by Welsh Academic Press. Dr Russell Deacon, Centre for councillors in 1964 to 49 out of 52 seats in 1986? Any literature or news Humanities, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Campus, cuttings from the period welcome. Ian Hunter, 9 Defoe Avenue, Kew, Cardiff CF23 6XD; [email protected]. Richmond TW9 4DL; 07771 785 795; [email protected]. Aneurin Williams and Liberal internationalism and pacificism, Liberal politics in Sussex, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight 1900– 1900–22. A study of this radical and pacificist MP (Plymouth 1910; 14. The study of electoral progress and subsequent disappointment. North West Durham/Consett 1914–22) who was actively involved in Research includes comparisons of localised political trends, issues Movement, Armenian nationalism, international and preferred interests as aganst national trends. Any information, co-operation, pro-Boer etc. Any information relating to him and specifically on Liberal candidates in the area in the two general elections location of any papers/correspondence welcome. Barry Dackombe. 32 of 1910, would be most welcome. Family papers especially appreciated. Ashburnham Road, Ampthill, Beds, MK45 2RH; [email protected]. Ian Ivatt, 84 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3JT; ianjivatt@ tinyonline.co.uk.

Journal of Liberal History 49 Winter 2005–06 23