The decline of the Liberals

Why support for the Liberals declined 1

• Divided opinions about the war.• Some Lib MPs were anti war and resigned.

• Formation of the Union of Democratic Control.

• Lib Party refused to let ‘anti-war’ Lib MPs to stand for election so fewer Lib MPs for voters.

• Arguments within the party over

1. Non intervention or intervention in economy, industry, people’s everyday lives (DORA). Intervention went against old Liberal ideals of laissez-faire and self help. Also seemed against Liberal ideals of personal freedom and civil liberties.

2. Conscription

• Party funds collapsed as members stopped paying subscriptions. (Hayes estimated that 25% of subscription money lost in wartime.)

• These arguments weakened its organisation. Party workers demoralised.

Why support for the Liberals declined 2

• The ‘shell scandal’– Field Marshall John French blamed the government

for a lack of shells which meant a failed attack against the Germans in May 1915 at Aubers Ridge.

– Political changes because of the scandal led to • A new Coalition government – Libs and Cons• With Lloyd George being in charge of munitions

and passing the Munitions of War Act which stopped recruitment of munitions workers and greater efficiency in shell production.

Female Dilutees Working in Springburn

Why support for the Liberals declined

3• The ‘Coupon’ Election – 14/12/1918• Lib MPs who had supported the 1916 coalition government of DLG were

issued with a letter of support signed by both Lloyd George and Andrew Bonar Law, Tory leader. This was seen as being a mark of approval for those candidates.

• Herbert Asquith, leader of the Liberals called the letter a “coupon”.• 159 Liberal candidates received the ‘coupon’. • Where a ‘Coupon’ Liberal stood for election, no Conservative challenged

him. Where a Conservative stood, no ‘Coupon’ Liberal challenged him. Therefore there was no chance of coalition candidate competing against another.  

• Those Liberals not issued with the coupon lost their seats. Only 26 ‘Squiffites’ won a seat.

• Asquith lost his seat for East Fife. • Many see the 1918 election as the start of the end for the Liberal Party.