Tag: Liberal party

Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Factions, Parties, Victorian

Party splits and political change in the 19th century

This summer, following the internal wrangling that occurred in most parties following the Brexit referendum, we’ve been taking a look at historic cases of party division. In today’s blog, Dr Philip Salmon, Editor of the Victorian Commons, discusses the impact of two major splits within the Tory and Conservative parties during the 19th century… In modern Britain we are not used to political parties splitting … Continue reading Party splits and political change in the 19th century

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 20th century history, Modern, Parties, Religious history, Social history

Parliaments, Politics and People Seminar: Peter Catterall, The Free Churches and the Parliamentary Labour Party, c.1918-39

At our first ‘Parliaments, Politics and People’ Seminar of the term, Peter Catterall (University of Westminster) spoke on ‘The Free Churches and the Parliamentary Labour Party, c.1918-39‘. Here he gives an overview of his paper… Did the Labour Party, in Morgan Phillips’ famous phrase, owe ‘more to Methodism than Marx’? After all, Nonconformity had historically been closely associated with Liberalism. A historic witness for liberty … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics and People Seminar: Peter Catterall, The Free Churches and the Parliamentary Labour Party, c.1918-39

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history, Social history

‘In a dirty ditch somewhere in France’: the Hon. Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes (1880-1915)

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the fifth MP who died fighting in the First World War, and the second this month. Continuing our series of short biographies of these men, Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, discusses the life of Thomas Agar-Robartes MP… Writing in May 1915 to apologise for his absence from a Liberal meeting in his Cornish constituency, Thomas Agar-Robartes MP headed … Continue reading ‘In a dirty ditch somewhere in France’: the Hon. Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes (1880-1915)

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Social history, 20th century history, Military history, Modern

MPs in World War I: Harold Thomas Cawley (1878-1915)

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the fourth MP who died fighting in the First World War. Continuing our series of short biographies of these men, Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, discusses the life of Harold Thomas Cawley… In a sad, but not uncommon, example of the toll which the First World War took on many British families, the long-serving Liberal MP for Prestwich, … Continue reading MPs in World War I: Harold Thomas Cawley (1878-1915)

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19th Century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Factions, Parties, Victorian

Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Alex Middleton, ‘The idea of Whiggism in mid-Victorian politics’

In an excellent conclusion to this term’s seminar programme, Dr. Alex Middleton of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, discussed Whiggism in nineteenth century British politics. He blogs for us about his paper… This paper examined how the mid-Victorians understood Whiggism and the Whigs. It started from the premise that despite Whiggism being one of the defining creeds in British political history, little attention has been paid … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics and People seminar: Alex Middleton, ‘The idea of Whiggism in mid-Victorian politics’

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Modern, 20th century history, Elections, Electoral Reform, Parties, Social history

‘Elections and how to fight them’: electioneering a century ago

We continue our series on election campaigning through the centuries today. Dr Kathryn Rix, Assistant Editor of the Victorian Commons, gives us an insight into the campaign trail at the turn of the 20th century… The title of this post, ‘Elections and how to fight them’, comes from a handbook written in 1905 by John Seymour Lloyd. This was just one of several guides published … Continue reading ‘Elections and how to fight them’: electioneering a century ago

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

MPs in World War I: Dr. John Esmonde (1862-1915)

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the third MP who died fighting in the First World War, and the second this week. Continuing our series of short biographies of these men, Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, discusses the life of Dr John Joseph Esmonde… While the first MP to die in the First World War, the Hon. Arthur O’Neill, was an Ulsterman and committed … Continue reading MPs in World War I: Dr. John Esmonde (1862-1915)

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Modern, 20th century history, Military history

MPs in World War I: William Glynne Charles Gladstone (1885-1915)

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the second MP who died fighting in the First World War. Continuing our series of short biographies of these men, Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, discusses the life of William Glynne Charles Gladstone… On 13 April 1915 William Glynne Charles Gladstone, the grandson of the late Prime Minister, became the second Member of Parliament to be killed in … Continue reading MPs in World War I: William Glynne Charles Gladstone (1885-1915)

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Modern, 20th century history, Elections, Military history, Parties, Social history

Putting aside party controversy: party organisers and the First World War

One hundred years ago this month, the main British political parties decided to prioritise war in Europe over electoral battles. Dr Kathryn Rix, of the Victorian Commons, tells us more… In October 1914 the Conservative Agents’ Journal urged party organisers in the constituencies that the outbreak of war made it necessary to put aside ‘party controversy and acrimony’, and ‘Keep the Flag Flying’. A similarly patriotic note … Continue reading Putting aside party controversy: party organisers and the First World War

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Conferences, Seminars and Events, 19th Century history, Elections, Parties, Social history, Victorian, Victorian Commons

Parliaments, Politics and People Seminar: The struggle for political representation: Labour candidates and the Liberal Party, 1868-1888

The latest paper in our ‘Parliaments, Politics and People’ seminar series was given by Dr James Owen, of the Victorian Commons. James’ book, titled Labour and the Caucus, has just been published by Liverpool University Press. Here he gives us an overview of his paper, ‘The struggle for political representation: Labour candidates and the Liberal Party, 1868-88’… The focus of my paper for the ‘Parliaments, … Continue reading Parliaments, Politics and People Seminar: The struggle for political representation: Labour candidates and the Liberal Party, 1868-1888

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