Elections and party organisation Ian Cawood examines the emergence and impact of the 1 Birmingham Liberal caucus' Birmingham, the 'Caucus' an Election hustings in 'I've got it,' said he with a face full ofglee, and its founders, as Andrew Reekes has recently the186os 'Dame Virtue shall no longer baulk us;' described.' And, in some ways, its actions were Then with a jubilant cry, he winked his left eye, manipulative ofthe electorate and not fully repre­ Gave a laugh and invented-the caucw!' sentative ofthe political complexion ofthe city. If the BLA has been considered to be the prototype N THE NATIONAL historiography ofthe Vic­ ofmodern political organisation, owing to its suc­ torian Liberal Party, Birmingham holds an cess in I868, it has nevertheless been suggested by Iambiguous position. One the one hand, it some commentators this was not entirdy benefi­ pioneered a new approach to political organisa­ cial for the development ofparticipative demo­ tion and electioneering, most spectacularly in cratic politics in Britain nor for the long-term the 1868 general dection which saw all three of survival ofthe Liberal Party.3 the seats for the city won for the Liberals, thanks Although the association was seen by Disraeli to the work ofthe Birmingham Liberal Associa­ as an example ofthe growing 'Americanisation' of tion (BLA). On the other hand, the BLA later the English political system,• it was, in fact, a nat­ proved to be a troublesome ally for Gladstone ural development ofthe progressive movement 30 Journal of Liberal History 105 Winter 2019-20 ~d the 1868 general election in Birmingham.' The BLA arose primarily out three were subsequently involved in the campaign ofthe close relationship between the Noncon­ for educational reform that would eventually pro­ formist churches in Birmingham. These had been duce the National Education League.'' .fired with a spirit ofpublic service by the radical Harris, the education reformer, George Dixon preacher, George Dawson, who preached at the and the proprietor ofthe sympathetic Birmingham Church ofthe Saviour in Edward Street. Dawson Daily Post, JohnJaffray, founded the BLA in Feb­ wished to see the energy and the professionalism ruary 1865, shortly before Lord Palmerston called ofthe Birmingham middle classes, hitherto dedi­ what was expected to be his last general elec­ cated to making money for themselves, turned tion. The circular announcing the initial meet­ instead towards the benefiting ofthe whole com­ ing noted that it was 'a matter ofregret that the munity through the provision ofcultural, social Liberal Party in Birmingham has had no recog­ If the BLA has and economic 'irnprovement'.6 As he famously nised organisation by which its opinions can be put it, 'a great town exists to discharge towards expressed and its interests promoted."4 The .first been considered the people ofthat town the duties that a great meetings ofthe BLA took place on 17 February in nation exists to discharge towards the people of a committee room of the Birmingham town hall to be the proto­ that nation. ., Dawson saw the enemies ofhis vast with a committee of twenty one members, Philip ambitions for the 'civic gospel' in the dominant Muntz as president and Dixon as honorary sec­ type of modern 'economist' group on Birmingham council, who retary.'' The title 'Liberal Association' was delib­ famously met in the Woodman pub, in Easy Row erately chosen instead ofan alternative title to political organisa­ near the canal wharf, to save the expense oferect­ avoid alarming moderates who would be worried tion, owing to its ing a proper Council House.' In r86r, he, together about a title containing words such as 'Radical' or with like-minded progressives, such as the archi­ 'Reform'.'• The purposes ofthe new association success in 1868, it tects J. H. Chamberlain and William Harris, and were given as follows: the scholars Samuel Timmons and G.J.John- has neverthe.less son, founded the Town Crier, a satirical periodical To maintain the liberal representation ofthe which mercilessly lambasted the short-sight­ borough. been suggested edness ofthe 'economists' who oversaw appall­ To assist in obtaining the return ofLiberal mem­ ing rates ofinfant mortality due to the lack of bers for the county. by some com­ In their place, adequate public health provision.• To promote the adoption ofLiberal principles in mentators this the Town Crier supported Thomas Avery who, the Government ofthe c:ountty. '' although cautious in expenditure, began to tackle was not entirely the town's sewage problem, in the first stirrings The BLA was outwardly, therefore, a more cen­ ofthe 'civic gospel'.10 In Dawson's congregation trist organisation, appealing to respectable Bir­ beneficial for the were not only figures such as J. T. Bunce andJesse mingham progressives, but it masked a very Collings, who came to dominate Birmingham radical agenda ofmunicipal reform and support development politics in the 1870s and thereafter, but also Har­ for expansion ofthe parliamentary franchise. ris, who has become known as the 'father ofthe The association was notably ineffective at of participative caucus'." Harris himselfhad been associated with first, struggling to operate within the restricted Liberal politics since his support for nationalist franchisei.rnposed in 1832. InJuly 1865, George democratic poli­ causes in Hungary and Italy in 1848 and was at Muntz was defeated in the North Warwick­ tics in Britain nor forefront ofLiberal activity in the 1860s owing to shire constituency in the general election. In his presidency ofthe Birmingham and Edgbaston response the BLA declared that it would not dis­ for the long-term Debating Society, where young professional and band and would become a permanent organisa­ businessmen ofall religious denominations such tion determined to drive forward a more radical survival of the as George Dixon andJoseph Chamberlain, dis­ agenda in Birmingham and Warwickshire's cussed how to improve their adopted town.12 All Liberal politics.'8 It funded the establishment Liberal Party. Journal of Liberal History 105 Winter 2019-20 31 Birmingham, the 'Caucus' and the 1868 general election ofa Birmingham branch ofthe radical Reform increase in the electorate, largely as a result of League in November 1865 with the support of the disturbances in Hyde Park inJuly 1866.'' local trade unions.' 9 One of the co-founders of the association, James Baldwin, was appointed as I ask with whom does the blame lie ofexpo s­ first president ofthe Midlands'department' of the ing us to this terrible danger -with those who league. The 'department' was inaugurated with endeavoured to keep the franchise from the most a meeting in Birmingham on 4 July 1866 with a numerous class of the community, and so with­ march ofthe trades unions from the Bull Ring to held from them the only weapon ofself-defen ce, the town hall.'0 Shortly afterwards, an enormous which is at once harmless and effective, or with meeting was held at Brook Fields, near Icknield me, for pointing out what would be the inevi­ Street, attended by around 200,000 supporters of table effect ofthat unjust and perilous policy in reform!' This was, in many ways, a return to the times ofgreat popular excitement? With whom tactics ofThomas Attwood's Birmingham Politi­ does the bhme lie? With me, for maintaining cal Union which had forged an alliance between that it is in.finitely safer that the great masses the town's workers and businessmen in 1830 and ofour countrymen should defend their rights which had held enormous meetings in May 1832 by constitutional means than by the exercise on New Hall hill,just outside the town centre, as ofph ysical force, or with those who denied the a scarcely concealed threat ofpotential disorder if people the sutfrage, and were willing, ifdark their demands for political reform were not met. and calamitous times should come, to encounter The serious 'Murphy Riots' of!ateJune I 867, the the terrible risk ofconspirac y and rebellion?" last anti-Catholic riots in nineteenth century Bir­ mingham, added to the sense of tension, though Dale, and the other leaders ofwhat Leighton the swift suppression ofthese by George Dixon, terms the 'new Radicals', who went on to give now Birmingham's mayor, did no harm for the speeches in the weeks that followed, focused on reputation ofthe Liberals among the respectable one crucial social issue to bring the newlyenfran­ ofBirmingham. " chised into the national polity-the development The immediate target of the BLA and the ofthe state provision ofeducation .3° The state Reform League was the extension of the fran­ had funded both Anglican and Nonconform- chise, following the death ofLord Palmerston ist schools since 1833 (which was called the 'vol­ and the rise ofthe more reform-minded Wil­ untary system'), but they had not kept pace with liam Gladstone. That the leading advocate of the expansion ofthe population, nor had they 'the widest possible suffrage',John Bright, was acknowledged that halfthe population never one ofthe MPs for Birmingham, helped to focus attended church. In Birmingham, the leading demands for Reform in the city." The BLA and progressives founded the Birmingham Education the Reform League also agreed that the num­ Society in March 1867 to campaign for greater ber ofMPs representing Birmingham should popular access to education and a reduction in church infl.uence in schools. In a report in 1868, be increased, to match the growth of the city Harris, equally in nineteenth century. They were aided by an