First World War: Wartime Politics

Asquith's failings

• Thought the war would be won by Christmas and it would be primarily naval
• Lost his grip by 1914: was accused of being drunk and his aloofness infuriated his colleagues
• Unable to adapt: Changed none of his Cabinet except introducing the inept Lord Kitchener as Secretary of State for War
• Asquith proclaimed it was 'business as usual'
• Soon became clear change was needed in 1915 with shell shortages and the Gallipoli disaster
• Coalition was pretty much forced on Asquith

Coalition of 1915-16

• DLG became Minister of Munitions: Introduced the Munitions of War Act giving him control of armament factories and outlawing strikes and lock-outs
• Coalition was joined by leading Cons. and Lab's Arthur Henderson
• 23 Cabinet Ministers: too many
• Cons. distrusted the Libs., slowing down the war effort and delaying conscription as Asquith would not accept such a denial of personal freedom
• Failure of the Battle of the Somme led to major calls for him to resign and be replaced by DLG, who had taken of as SoSfW after Kitchener's death
• Suggested that a three man War Cabinet be set up with DLG as chairman, Asquith refused
• Chose to resign instead, refusing to serve under somene else

Why DLG took over

• 'Like substituting dynamite for a damp squib'
• DLG got…