This page lists all the content on the site relevant to Liberal leaders.
History (8)
Biographies (21)
Journals (1)
Journal articles (77)
Books (4)
Events (3)
Archives: libraries (2)
Archives: individuals (2)
PhD theses (5)
Research (1)
History
Liberal Democrat History Group's Sound Archive
...
National Sound Archive
The National Sound Archive at the British Library holds various recordings of key Liberal figures. ...
The Midlothian Campaign
A year after the defeat of his government in 1874, William Ewart Gladstone retired as leader of the Liberal Party. At 65, he deeply desired an interval between parliament and the grave to devote to r...
Edison's recording of Gladstone
The Gladstone recording would originally have been made on a cylinder for the phonograph which Thomas Edison announced to the world in 1877. ...
Local history: Wembley Young Liberals in the 1950s
Alan Knight on being active in the Wembley North Young Liberals in the early 1950s. ...
Grimond and the first post-war revival
The apogee of two-party politics in the UK was reached in the 1950s. At the 1955 election, the Conservative and Labour parties, and their allies, between them took 96.10 per cent of the vote and 98.7...
Great Liberals
John Stuart Mill chosen as greatest British Liberal ...
Old heroes for a new leader
As we have done in each of the last two Liberal Democrat leadership elections, in 1999 and 2006, the Liberal Democrat History Group has asked both candidates for the Liberal Democrat leadership to wr...
Biographies
Biography of 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith
Asquith, Herbert Henry (Earl of Oxford and Asquith)
Biography of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Campbell-Bannerman, Sir Henry
Biography of Clement Davies
Clement Davies, Edward
Biography of Charles James Fox
Fox, Charles James
Biography of William Ewart Gladstone
Gladstone, William Ewart
Biography of Lord Jo Grimond
Grimond, Jo (Lord Grimond)
Biography of Sir William Harcourt
Harcourt, Sir William
Biography of 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor David Lloyd George
Lloyd-George, David (Earl Lloyd-George and Viscount Gwynedd)
Biography of 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Palmerston, Viscount (Henry John Temple)
Biography of Earl Archibald Philip Primrose Rosebery
Rosebery, Earl Of
Biography of Lord John Russell
Russell, Lord John
Biography of Viscount Herbert Samuel
Samuel, Herbert (Viscount Samuel)
Biography of Viscount Thurso Archibald Sinclair
Sinclair, Sir Archibald (Viscount Thurso)
Biography of Lord David Steel
Steel, David (Lord Steel)
Biography of Jeremy Thorpe
Thorpe, Jeremy
Biography of Baron Jenkins of Hillhead Roy Jenkins
Jenkins, Roy (Lord Jenkins)
Biography, Maclennan, Robert (Lord Maclennan)
Maclennan, Robert (Lord Maclennan)
Biography of 2nd Viscount Melbourne
Melbourne, Viscount (William Lamb)
Biography of Earl of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Earl of (George Hamilton-Gordon)
Biography of William Ewart Gladstone
Gladstone, William Ewart
Biography of Earl Granville
Granville, Earl (Granville George Leveson Gower)
Journal
Journal of Liberal History 77 - Special issue: David Lloyd George
Journal articles
Leaders and leadership
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 27 ')
Interview with Jeremy Thorpe, leader of the Liberal Party 1967-76.
Gladstone and the Irish question
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 26 ')
Gladstone tried repeatedly to resolve the problem of Ireland. This article argues that his efforts were doomed to failure because of his own prejudices and preconceptions.
Clement Davies: An underestimated Welshman and politician
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 24 ')
Clement Davies led the Liberal Party from 1945 to 1956. This article reviews his life and career.
Liberal leaderships
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 23 ')
As the Liberal Democrats enter their second leadership contest, Robert Ingham looks at contests of the past.
The Liberal Party and the fall of the Chamberlain government
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 13 ')
Examines the crucial role played by Liberal politicians - including Sinclair and Lloyd George - in the ousting of Neville Chamberlain in May 1940.
Gladstone: The colossus of the nineteenth century - politics then and now
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 12 ')
Lord Jenkins, giving the Guildhall Lecture to an invited audience in June 1996, took the contrast between the patterns of political life in the nineteenth century and the late twentieth century as his central theme.
The legacy of Gladstone
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 7 ')
The Grand Old Man's record.
In search of the great Liberals
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 55 ')
Who is the greatest Liberal of all time? Your chance to decide.
'The representative man'
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 6 ')
Reviews of Kenneth Bourne, Palmerston: The Early Years 1783-1841 and Donald Southgate, The Most English Minister
Asquith and the Liberal legacy
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 61 ')
Assessment of Asquith's record - in a lecture given to mark the centenary of the formation of Aquith's administration.
The Lloyd George land taxes
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 73 ')
A look at the history of the land taxes introduced by Lloyd George in the 1909 Peoples Budget.
William Ewart Gladstone: A bicentenary perspective
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 75 ')
Gladstone's connections with Nottinghamshire explored.
Old heroes for a new leader
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 23 ')
Liberal Democrat leadership candidates describe their historical inspirations.
Scottish devolution: the Grimond years
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 17 ')
After 300 years, Scotland is to have a Parliament again. This article examines the role of Jo Grimond in the story of Scottish devolution.
The election of Jeremy Thorpe to the Liberal leadership
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 15 ')
The first phase of the Liberal postwar revival came to an end with the resignation of Jo Grimond as leader. Tim Beaumont recalls the election of his successor.
'He would not stoop, he did not conquer'
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 7 ')
Review of Robert Rhodes James, Rosebery.
Gladstone 1809-1874
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 2 ')
Review of H.C.G. Matthew: Gladstone 1809-1874
One prayer above all: Ireland, Ireland, Ireland
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 5 ')
Review of H. C. G. Matthew, The Gladstone Diaries, Vols 12, 13, 14
A Liberal in power
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 6 ')
Review of Roy Jenkins, Asquith
Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 61 ')
Analysis of the uneasy political relationship between the two Liberal leaders.
David and Maggie
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 63 ')
Diaries and correspondence files are used to examine the courtship between David Lloyd George and Margaret Owen between 1884 and their marriage in 1888.
The afterlives of former Liberal prime ministers
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 71 ')
A look at the lives in retirement of Russell, Gladstone,
Rosebery, Asquith and Lloyd George.
The making of 'The People's William'
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 75 ')
Analysis of Gladstone's transformation into the most popular politician of his age.
Lloyd George and leadership
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 77 - Special issue: David Lloyd George ')
The influences on Lloyd George of Gladstone and Abraham Lincoln.
Jo Grimond's leadership of the Liberal Party
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 14 - Special issue: The Liberal revival ')
'The personification and the hope of postwar Liberalism.' The record of Jo Grimond.
Gladstone: further reading
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 2 ')
Tony Little
Thomas Jones's 'Lloyd George'
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 58 ')
The story of the writing of one of the best single-volume biographies of Lloyd George.
Interview: Jeremy Thorpe
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 59 ')
Interview with the former Liberal leader.
A failure of leadership
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 25 - Special issue: Crossing the Floor ')
Defections 1918-29. The post-First World War period saw many Liberals, including high-profile personalities such as Winston Churchill, decide that the time was right for them to change political parties.
'A dynamic force is a terrible thing'
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 5 ')
Review of Martin Pugh, Lloyd George
Jo Grimond's Liberalism
(from journal ' Liberal Democrat History Group Newsletter 8 ')
Review of Peter Joyce, Giving Politics a Good Name: A Tribute to Jo and Laura Grimond
Old heroes for a new leader
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 57 ')
Liberal Democrat leadership contenders' political heroes.
A statue for Lloyd George
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 58 ')
Lloyd George's statue unveiled in Parliament Square.
Report: Campbell-Bannerman centenary commemorations
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 63 ')
Report on the commemorations of autumn 2008.
Report: What's left of Gladstonian Liberalism in the Liberal Democrats?
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 66 ')
Report of History Group meeting of 25 January 2010, with Dr Eugenio Biagini and Chris Huhne MP. Chair: William Wallace (Hon. President, Liberal Democrat History Group).
'Maistly Scotch': Campbell-Bannerman and Liberal leadership
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 54 - Special issue: The 1906 landslide: the legacy ')
Assessment of the record of the man who led the Liberals into the 1906 landslide
Life with Lloyd George
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 55 ')
A. J. Sylvester's Life with Lloyd George remains a unique source of information. This article examines its preparation, publication and impact.
Campbell as Leader
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 60 ')
Interview with Menzies Campbell, Leader of the Liberal Democrats 2006-07, on his political career.
Paddy Ashdown MP: Diaries Volume 1
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 30 ')
Review of Paddy Ashdown MP: Diaries Volume 1
Fourth Among Equals
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 28 ')
Review of Bill Rodgers: Fourth Among Equals.
Report: Leaders good and bad
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 27 ')
Report of LDHG meeting of February 2000, on Liberal, SDP and Liberal Democrat leaders, with Robert Maclennan MP and Professor Peter Clarke.
The Alliance: parties and leaders
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 18 - Special issue: The Legacy of the Alliance and Merger ')
How successful was the Alliance? Was merger the right road to follow? The case against.
Dizzy and the Grand Old Man
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 58 ')
Review of Richard Aldous, The Lion and the Unicorn: Gladstone vs Disraeli
Leader out of time
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 60 ')
Review of Menzies Campbell, My Autobiography.
Archie and Clem
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 70 ')
The story of the relationship between the successive Liberal leaders Sir Archibald Sinclair and Clement Davies.
A breach in the family
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 25 - Special issue: Crossing the Floor ')
Examination of the defections, in the 1950s, of the children of David Lloyd George: Megan to Labour, and her brother Gwilym to the Conservatives.
Rt Hon Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 59 ')
Report of centenary commemorations in Scotland, April 2008.
Report: Thorpe bust unveiled
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 64 ')
Report of the unveiling of a portrait bust of the Rt Hon. Jeremy Thorpe at the House of Commons on 15 July 2009.
David and Francis
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 74 ')
An examination of the build-up to the marriage of David Lloyd George and Frances Stevenson in 1943.
Breaking the mould?
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 25 - Special issue: Crossing the Floor ')
Robert Maclennan was one of the original MPs who left the Labour Party to found the SDP, eventually becoming its third, and last, leader.Tony Little interviewed him during the 1999 Liberal Democrat conference at Harrogate.
The Two Davids
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 18 - Special issue: The Legacy of the Alliance and Merger ')
Examination of how much the failure of the Alliance was due to the failures of its leaders.
Women and Lloyd George
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 62 - Special issue: Women and Liberalism ')
Review of Ffion Hague, The Pain and the Privilege: the Women in Lloyd Georges Life
Letters to the Editor
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 73 ')
Liberal Prime Ministers (Sandy Waugh); Russell Johnston (Andrew Duff); Cheltenham (Michael Steed); Liberal Unionists (Paul Hunt); The triple lock (Philip Goldenberg); Coalitions (Sandy Waugh).
New perspectives on Gladstone
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 76 ')
Review of Roland Quinault, Roger Swift and Ruth Clayton Windscheffel (eds.), William Gladstone: New Studies and Perspectives (Ashgate, 2012)
Burying Caesar: Churchill, Chamberlain and the Battle for the Tory Party
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 28 ')
Review of Graham Stewart: Burying Caesar: Churchill,
Chamberlain and the Battle for the Tory Party
The reluctant leader
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 53 ')
Review of Greg Hurst, Charles Kennedy: A Tragic Flaw
Campbell-Bannerman
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 54 - Special issue: The 1906 landslide: the legacy ')
Review of Roy Hattersley, Campbell-Bannerman
The two great wartime leaders
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 58 ')
Review of Richard Toye, Lloyd George and Churchill: Rivals for Greatness
So many Gladstones
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 61 ')
Review of Richard Shannon, Gladstone: God and Politics
Women and Gladstone
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 62 - Special issue: Women and Liberalism ')
Review of Anne Isba, Gladstone and Women
'An out-of-date word'
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 67 - Special issue: Liberals and the left ')
Jo Grimond and the left.
'Remains to be seen'
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 78 ')
Review of Chris Bowers, Nick Clegg: The Biography (Biteback, 2011; paperback edition, 2012) and Jasper Gerard, The Clegg Coup (Gibson Square, 2011).
One Man's Pride
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal Democrat History 18 - Special issue: The Legacy of the Alliance and Merger ')
The lost opportunities of the Alliance years. Owen and his impact on the Alliance.
Asquith
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 54 - Special issue: The 1906 landslide: the legacy ')
Review of Stephen Bates, Asquith
Eight case studies of notorious political rivals
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 66 ')
Review of John Campbell, Pistols at Dawn: Two Hundred Year of Political Rivalry, from Pitt and Fox to Blair and Brown (Jonathan Cape, 2009).
Walpole to Blair in retirement
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 71 ')
Review of Theakston, After Number 10: Former Prime Ministers in British Politics.
The Beaverbrook Library
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 77 - Special issue: David Lloyd George ')
A. J. P. Taylor and the rise of Lloyd George studies.
Lloyd George
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 54 - Special issue: The 1906 landslide: the legacy ')
Review of Hugh Purcell, Lloyd George
From Catherine Walpole to Cherie Blair
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 56 ')
Review of Mark Hichens, Prime Ministers' Wives - and One Husband
Gladstone 200
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 63 ')
The Gladstone 200 Campaign at St Deiniol's Library.
Review: Reading the man through his books
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 64 ')
Review of Clayton Windscheffel, Reading Gladstone.
Lloyd George and Wales
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 70 ')
Review of Jones, Lloyd George and Welsh Liberalism.
Gladstone and Ireland
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 78 ')
Review of Mary E. Daly and Theordore Hoppen (eds.), Gladstone: Ireland and
Beyond (Four Courts Press, 2011).
From Walpole, 1720, to Blair, 2005
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 53 ')
Review of Roger Ellis and Geoffrey Treasure, Britain's Prime Ministers
The Liberal Democrats today
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 56 ')
Review of Political Quarterly special issue on the Liberal Democrats
Blair and Ashdown
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 67 - Special issue: Liberals and the left ')
Notes on a political relationship.
Hattersley on Lloyd George
(from journal ' Journal of Liberal History 77 - Special issue: David Lloyd George ')
Review of Roy Hattersley, The Great Outsider: David Lloyd George.
Books
Liberal Leaders of the Nineteenth Century
The forty-page booklet contains concise biographies of every Liberal leader from the Great Reform Act to the end of the nineteeth century the heyday of the Liberal Party. The total of eleven biographies stretches from Lord Grey to Sir William Harcourt, including such towering figures as Viscout Melbourne, Lord John Russell, Lord Palmerston and William Ewart Gladstone. Full price £4; available to Journal of Liberal History subscribers at the special price of £3.50. See top of page for order details.
Liberal Leaders of the Twentieth Century
The sixty-page booklet contains concise biographies of every Liberal, Social Democrat and Liberal Democrat leader since 1900. The total of sixteen biographies stretches from Henry Campbell-Bannerman to Nick Clegg, including such figures as H. H. Asquith, David Lloyd George, Jo Grimond, David Steel, David Owen and Paddy Ashdown. Full price £6; available to Journal of Liberal History subscribers at the special price of £5. See top of page for order details.
Great Liberal Speeches
Bringing together in one volume more than forty-five of the greatest Liberal speeches by the greatest Liberal speech-makers, from Charles James Fox to Charles Kennedy. Each speech is given a concise introduction setting it in context and explaining its impact. The book opens with general introductions on the evolution of Liberal thinking and themes (by Tony Little and Duncan Brack) and on the art of political rhetoric (by Max Atkinson, author of Our Masters' Voices). Great Liberal Speeches is a unique source of reference for anyone interested in the contribution of Liberals and Liberalism to British politics, and in the importance and impact of political speech-making. Full price £20; available to Journal of Liberal History subscribers at the special price of £16. See top of page for order details.
Dictionary of Liberal Biography
With Forewords by Paddy Ashdown and Ben Pimlott. This book brings together the biographies of over 200 individuals who have made major contributions to the Liberal Party, or to British Liberalism. Significant essays have been contributed by senior academics on some of Britains most important historical figures, including nineteenth century politicians such as Gladstone and Palmerston, liberal thinkers such as Bentham and Keynes and post-war politicians such as Jeremy Thorpe and Jo Grimond. The Dictionary of Liberal Biography is a unique source of reference for anyone requiring information on the contribution of Liberals and liberalism to British politics - past and present.
Events
Jo Grimond - the legacy
Monday 10 June 2013
Jo Grimond, leader of the Liberal Party from 1956 to 1967, holds a particularly affectionate place in the collective memory of the Liberal Democrats. His charisma, charm, good looks, political courag...
David Lloyd George: the legacy
Friday 8 March 2013
One of the greatest Liberal prime ministers, David Lloyd George, was born 150 years ago.
...
Forgotten heroes for a governing party
Monday 20 June 2011
Some forgotten figures of Liberal history may deserve their obscurity, but most remain an unmined source of reference, quotation and inspiration for the contemporary Liberal Democrat - especially now...
Archives: libraries
BLPES
Liberal Party Archives at the London School of Economics (BLPES) ...
archive url: http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/archive/
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Archive Collections relating to Liberal history at the Bodleian Library ...
archive url: http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodley/library/specialcollections
Archives: individuals
Temple, Henry John (third Viscount Palmerston)
Palmerston's papers at the Hartley Library, University of Southampton ...
archive url: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/archives/
Wainwright, Richard (1918-2003) and Lord Steel (1938-)
Project to catalogue the papers of Richard Wainwright and Lord David Steel at London School of Economics Archives ...
archive url: http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/archives
PhD theses
Jo Grimond's leadership of the Liberal party
Supervisor - Professor Ben Pimlott
London, Ph.D , 1997
Lloyd George's pre-Parliamentary political career
Wales M.A. , 1974
Mr. Gladstone's leadership of the parliamentary Liberal Party, 1868-74
Oxford D.Phil. , 1961
The constitutional thought of Winston Churchill, 1906-29
Supervisor - Dr. David J. Reynolds
Cambridge, M.Litt , 1996
The working library of William Ewart Gladstone
Supervisor - Dr. Jon M. Lawrence
Liverpool, Ph.D , 2003
Research
Policy position and Leadership Strategy within the Liberal Democrats: from Ashdown to Clegg
This thesis will be a study of the political positioning and leadership strategy of the Liberal Democrats. Consideration of the role of equidistance; development of policy from the point of merger; the influence and leadership strategies of each leader from Ashdown to Clegg; and electoral strategy from 1988-2015 will form the basis of the work. Any material relating to leadership election campaigns, election campaigns, internal party groups (for example the Social Liberal Forum) or policy documents from 1987 and merger talks onwards would be greatly welcomed. Personal insights and recollections also sought.
Samuel Barratt
Contact: pt10seb@leeds.ac.uk
