New Liberalism & Social Reform

Liberals and 'New Liberalism'

• Liberals back in Govt in 1905
• 1906 General Election:
  • Liberals landslide victory under Campbell-Bannerman
• Asquith took over in 1908, Lloyd-George as Chancellor.
• 1910 elections:
  • No majority, but Irish nationalists kept the Liberals in power. Minority govt.

What is Liberalism?

• 'Old' Liberalism:
  • Individualistic
  • Progressive
  • Self-help, Individual responsibility, personal freedoms, low govt spending.
• 'New' Liberalism:
  • More interventionist
  • Aimed to alleviate poverty and unemployment.
  • Wanted to extend franchise, reform the Lords, end landed interest, Home Rule, reform welfare, progressive taxation.
  • Humanitarian political beliefs to appeal to W/C electorate to fight of Labour.
  • Wanted to unite the party behind a project.
  • Wanted a healthy, educated population worthy to lead to world.

'Physical Deterioration'

• Concerns over physical unfitness, high infant mortality, 'fertility imbalance'.
• 1904:
  • Inter-Departmental…