For the study of Liberal, SDP and Issue 79 / Summer 2013 / £6.00 Liberal Democrat history Journal of LiberalHI ST O R Y A forgotten Lib–Con alliance Alun Wyburn-Powell The Constitutionalists and the 1924 election A new party or a worthless coupon? David Dutton ‘A nasty, deplorable little incident in our political life’ The Dumfries Standard, 1957 David Cloke David Lloyd George: the legacy Meeting report James Fargher The South African war and its effect on the Liberal alliance Kenneth O. Morgan The relevance of Henry Richard The ‘apostle of peace’ Liberal Democrat History Group 2 Journal of Liberal History 79 Summer 2013 Journal of Liberal History Issue 79: Summer 2013 The Journal of Liberal History is published quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group. ISSN 1479-9642 Liberal history news 4 Editor: Duncan Brack Lloyd George commemorations; plaque to Lord john Russell; Gladstone statue Deputy Editor: Tom Kiehl unveiled in Seaforth Assistant Editor: Siobhan Vitelli Biographies Editor: Robert Ingham Reviews Editor: Dr Eugenio Biagini A forgotten Liberal–Conservative alliance 6 Contributing Editors: Graham Lippiatt, Tony Little, The Constitutionalists and the 1924 election – a new party or a worthless York Membery coupon? by Alun Wyburn-Powell Patrons Letters to the Editor 15 Dr Eugenio Biagini; Professor Michael Freeden; Honor Balfour (Michael Meadowcroft and Hugh Pagan) Professor John Vincent Editorial Board Liberal history quiz 2012 15 Dr Malcolm Baines; Dr Ian Cawood; Matt Cole; Dr Roy The answers (questions in issue 78) Douglas; Dr David Dutton; Prof. David Gowland; Prof. Richard Grayson; Dr Michael Hart; Peter Hellyer; Dr ‘A nasty, deplorable little incident in our political 16 Alison Holmes; Dr J. Graham Jones; Dr Tudor Jones; Tony Little; Prof. Ian Machin; Dr Mark Pack; Dr Ian life’ Packer; Dr John Powell; Jaime Reynolds; Dr Andrew Liberalism, National Liberalism and the editorship of the Dumfries Standard, Russell; Dr Iain Sharpe 1957; by David Dutton Editorial/Correspondence Report 23 Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles, and David Lloyd George: The Legacy, with Kenneth O. Morgan and David Howarth; book reviews – are invited. The Journal is a refereed publication; all articles submitted will be reviewed. report by David Cloke Contributions should be sent to: Duncan Brack (Editor) The South African war and its effect on the 26 54 Midmoor Road, London SW12 0EN Liberal alliance email: [email protected] James Fargher examines the impact of the war on the alliance between the All articles copyright © Journal of Liberal History. All Liberal Party and the Irish nationalists rights reserved. The relevance of Henry Richard 36 Advertisements Kenneth O. 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July 2013 Chair: Tony Little Honorary President: Lord Wallace of Saltaire Journal of Liberal History 79 Summer 2013 3 LIBERal HisTORY NEWS SUMMER 2013 Lloyd George commemorations As readers of the winter issue of the guest speakers were Lord Kenneth sponsored by Liberal Democrat Journal (no. 77), the special issue on Morgan, the foremost academic Assembly Member Cllr William the life and career of David Lloyd authority on Lloyd George, and Powell and organised by Professor George, will know, 17 January 2013 Lord Dafydd Wigley, the Plaid Russell Deacon, Chairman of the was the 150th anniversary of the Cymru peer, who used to sit for Lloyd George Society, with origi- birth of Lloyd George, in a terraced Lloyd George’s old seat of Caer- nal materials created by the Welsh house in Chorlton-on-Medlock narfon Boroughs. Guests also heard political artist Dan Petersen. We in Manchester. His father’s fail- the first performance of a specially understand that the exhibition was ing health, and death the following composed piece of music, ‘Why the best attended event of this kind year, took the family back to Wales Should We Not Sing?’, commis- ever held at the Pierhead. and Lloyd George grew up speak- sioned by Martin Thomas (Lord Aspects of Lloyd George’s life ing Welsh as his first language, Thomas of Gresford), the President and legacy were also remembered tutored and encouraged by his of the Lloyd George Society. The at the Lloyd George Society week- Uncle Lloyd in the Caernarfonshire piece, written by Nicholas O’Neill, end school in Llandrindod Wells village of Llanystumdwy. Graham Composer-in-Residence to the Par- in February, with talks about the Lippiatt reports on the series of liament Choir, intertwines read- Museum from its curator Nest events held in January to commem- ings from texts by and about Lloyd Thomas, the life of Jennifer Long- orate the 150th anniversary. George with music designed to ford by Dr J Graham Jones (Head of Thursday 17 January saw a cer- illustrate the various phases of his the Welsh Political Archive at the emony at Lloyd George’s statue life and career. It was performed National Library in Aberystwyth) in Parliament Square in London, on the night by musicians from the and after-dinner remarks by Baron- organised by Liberal Democrat peer South Bank Sinfonia, with Elinor ess Jenny Randerson, Parliamen- Roger Roberts (Lord Roberts of Bennett (Lady Wigley), harp and tary Under-Secretary of State at Llandudno). The service was led by Paul Medlicott, baritone. The texts the Wales Office. the Chaplain of the Speaker of the were read by Martin Thomas. As Lord Morgan remarked, ‘the House of Commons, the Reverend Meanwhile in Wales, the Lloyd old boy would think we’d done Rose Hudson-Wilkin. There fol- George Museum in Llanystumdwy Lord Tenby him proud’. lowed a laying of daffodil wreaths held an exhibition and graveside by the Lloyd More information about the at the statue by Lloyd George’s commemoration on 17 January to George statue Lloyd George Society can be found grandson, Viscount Tenby, and honour the Welsh Wizard, fol- in Parliament at its website, www.lloydgeorgeso- two of the younger members of lowed by tea in Llanystumdwy Square ciety.org.uk the George family. A wreath was Hall. This event offered a unique also laid by Jane Bonham Carter opportunity to see some of the cur- (Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarn- rent Earl Lloyd-George of Dwy- bury) the great-granddaughter of for’s collection of heirlooms and H.H. Asquith, as a token of rec- mementos from Lloyd George’s onciliation between the families political life. On the next day against the background of the split there was a chance to hear some- in the Liberal Party precipitated by thing about Lloyd George’s social Lloyd George’s becoming Prime and political legacy, with a lecture Minister in 1916. The Gwalia Male on ‘Keeping the wolves of hun- Voice Choir sang Mae Hen Wlad ger from the door: Lloyd George’s Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national National Insurance Act 1911’ by Dr anthem. The commemoration then Steven Thompson from the Uni- moved into Parliament with a ser- versity of Aberystwyth. vice at the Undercroft Chapel in Also in Wales, the Lloyd George Westminster Hall and afterwards to Society organised an exhibition of the Jubilee Room to hear speeches drawings, photographs, cartoons, from representatives of the four information boards and other mate- main political parties in Wales. rials celebrating Lloyd George and Later that evening a dinner was various aspects of Welsh and British held at the National Liberal Club, political life. Held at the National sponsored jointly by the Club and Assembly’s Pierhead Building in the Lloyd George Society. The Cardiff Bay, the exhibition was 4 Journal of Liberal History 79 Summer 2013 liBERal hisTORY NEWS As the Liverpool Echo reported at the time, Birkenhead MP Frank Field, who unveiled the statue, described the event as ‘one of the most staggering days’ of his politi- cal career. He said: ‘There was such an excitement and buzz there and it was all because of the huge drive and vision of Brenda Murray.