New Liberalism & Gladstonian Liberalism (Social Issues 1900-1918) (Britain 1900-1951)

Peace, retrenchment, reform

Free trade

• Trade free of tariffs (taxes placed on imports) and quotas
• Fostering competitiveness and efficiency.

Laissez-Faire

• The State should intervene as little as possible in society or the economy
• Favoured a government with a very limited role,
• Low taxation
• Protection of non conformists’ interests.

Importance of Reform

• Promote education,
• Defend the rights and freedoms of the individual
• Pressurising the ruling classes to lessen the effects of privilege.

David Lloyd George became leader of the party after Gladstone’s death in 1898.Political hero was Chamberlain (and his progressive views).  Dominated the government by 1906.

• Agreed that to stop the rise of socialism they needed to broaden their political appeal
• Realised that the working classes had difficulty saving for retirement, unemployment or sickness because of LOW WAGES which created a relentless cycle of poverty.
• Pursued a policy of social reform. Becoming their main policy 
  • New understanding of new relationship between state and the individual
  • Minimal Intervention to maximise standard of living and establish poorer sections of society
  • Free trade/ business without control
  • Idea of “self help”
  • Higher government spending
  • Natural extension of traditional liberalism
  • Freedom from things
  • Target poverty, poor wages and insecurity
  • Did not help/was not promoted to win 1906 election

• Extention of state responsibility