Discussion and research on histories of the Lib Dems and predecessors, Liberal Party and SDP, and of Liberalism. Publish quarterly Journal of Liberal History.
United Kingdom
Joined February 2013
- Tweets5.6K
- Following1.2K
- Followers2.5K
- Likes902
Pinned Tweet
We're now on YouTube - you can watch many of our previous talks and meetings here! Let us know what else you would want to see.
youtube.com/channel/UCOSDXWa…
#OTD 1951
1/4 -Liberal Party leader Clement Davies meets newly elected Conservative Prime Minister Winston Churchill at Churchill's London home at Hyde Park Gate. The meeting was to discuss Churchill's offer to include Davies in his cabinet as Minister for Education...
3/4 - The Executive voted by 11 to 1 to reject the offer (the sole vote in favour being that of Lady Violet Bonham Carter) & Davies announced that he 'felt unable' to accept Churchill's offer. This act ensured the survival of the Liberal Party, as any move towards the...
#OTD 1800
1/3 - Birth of Thomas Babbington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay, poet, historian and Whig MP for Calne 1830-32, Leeds 1832-34 and Edinburgh 1839-47 & 1852-56. A key figure in early 19th century literature and politics,
2/3 - Macaulay's series of popular ballads Lays of Ancient Rome were required reading in schools for many years, while his History of England with its theme of human progress gave rise to the Whig interpretation of history. Macaulay served in several Whig governments in the 1830s
#OTD 1981
1/3 - William "Bill" Pitt wins the Croydon North West by-election for the Liberal/SDP Alliance. The by-election had been caused by the death of the sitting Conservative MP Robert Taylor. Liberal and SDP leaders were keen for Shirley Williams to stand...
2/3 - ...for the Alliance but the local Liberal Association backed by the Party Council refused to play ball and selected three time candidate Bill Pitt. Pitt, standing as a "Liberal with SDP support," duly won the by-election moving from third place to win...
#OTD 1784
Birth of Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, Tory then Whig MP for Newport 1807-11, Cambridge University 1811-31, Bletchingly 1831-32, Hampshire South 1832-35 and Tiverton 1835-65. Prime Minister 1855-58 and 1859-65.
#OTD 1922
1/3 - David Lloyd George resigns as Prime Minister. On 18 October 1922, the Conservative Reginald Clarry won a by-election at Newport in Monmouthshire, signalling a grassroots Tory revolt against the coalition government of Conservatives and Lloyd George Liberals.
2/3 - A meeting of Conservative MPs had been organised at the Carlton Club for the next day and in the aftermath of the by-election result, triumphant anti-coalition MPs won the day and voted to fight the next election as an independent party.
#OTD 1865
1/5 - Death of Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, Tory then Whig MP for Newport 1807-11, Cambridge University 1811-31, Bletchingly 1831-32, Hampshire South 1832-35 and Tiverton 1835-65. Prime Minister 1855-58 and 1859-65.
4/5 - ...in the 1850s and 60s. His rather carefree approach to politics belied a serious purpose. He was a passionate opponent of slavery and during his two periods as Prime Minister, he ended the Crimean War, reformed the divorce laws and regulated company law.
#OTD 1981
1/2 - The SDP and the Welsh Liberals meet in Llandrindod Wells to agree which party will contest each parliamentary constituency in Wales on behalf of the Alliance at the next General Election.