Yorkshire Liberalism during the First World War

• Published in: The Historical journal 1989-03, Vol.32 (1), p.107-129
• Main Author: Bernstein, George L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conscription; Conservatism; Government bureaucracy; Ideology; Journalism; Liberal parties; Liberalism; Parliamentary system; Political campaigns; Political parties; War; World War I
• ISSN: 0018-246X; 1469-5103
• DOI: 10.1017/S0018246X00015326

For some time now, the narrative of the Liberal party's demise during the First World War has been fairly firmly defined. The war imposed strains on liberal ideology by forcing Liberals to compromise long-cherished policies such as free trade, a free market and a volunteer army. Concurrently, a growing division among Liberals emerged over how to conduct the war. H. H. Asquith and his supporters were increasingly reluctant to accept further compromises of voluntarism and the market mechanism for allocating resources; David Lloyd George and his supporters demanded massive government intervention in every aspect of the economy to mobilize the nation for total war. The replacement of Asquith by Lloyd George as prime minister in December 1916 marked the triumph of the latter approach. Traditional liberalism as a practical ideology of government was now discredited. The Liberal party was left with no unity or purpose. The leaders disliked and distrusted each other; there was no agreement on policy or the future direction of the party. Thus, it was in no position by the end of the war to compete with the resurgent Conservative and Labour parties for the allegiance of the British voter.