OCR Specification focus:
‘Political developments during the war: the coalition of 1915, the creation of the Lloyd George Coalition; the splits in the Liberal Party and their importance.’
The First World War deeply altered British political life, reshaping leadership structures, redefining party divisions, and introducing new coalitions that significantly influenced the course of governance.
The Asquith Coalition of 1915
By 1915, the war’s demands placed increasing pressure on Britain’s existing political leadership. Herbert Henry Asquith, Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, faced criticism for inadequate coordination of the war effort. Mounting military setbacks, particularly in the Dardanelles campaign, led to public dissatisfaction and demands for a more united national front.
In May 1915, Asquith established a coalition government with Conservative and Labour representatives.
H. H. Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister (1908–1916) and head of the 1915 wartime coalition. The portrait is typical of contemporary press photography and is useful for identifying the key leader referenced in this section. It supports discussion of coalition formation and criticisms of his wartime style. Source
The coalition aimed to project national unity, share responsibility for the war effort, and strengthen parliamentary support.
Despite these intentions, Asquith was often criticised for indecisiveness and poor delegation, allowing disputes within his Cabinet to weaken efficiency.
Coalition Government: A government formed by two or more political parties who agree to share power, often during times of national crisis.
Tensions soon developed. The Conservatives distrusted Asquith’s leadership, while the Labour representatives were primarily concerned with protecting workers’ conditions and representation during wartime. This fragile balance left Asquith’s coalition vulnerable.
The Rise of Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, originally a Liberal Chancellor of the Exchequer, gained prominence as Minister of Munitions (1915–1916). He transformed arms production through tighter government control, the introduction of munitions factories, and strong engagement with industrial leaders. His reputation for dynamism and administrative competence contrasted sharply with Asquith’s perceived indecision.
In June 1916, Lloyd George was appointed Secretary of State for War, positioning him at the centre of strategic planning.
His reputation for energy and pragmatism won Conservative confidence, while his readiness to bypass entrenched Liberal traditions created divisions within his own party.
Growing impatience with Asquith’s hesitant style set the stage for Lloyd George’s rise to the premiership.
The Lloyd George Coalition of 1916
In December 1916, a political crisis culminated in Asquith’s resignation. Lloyd George formed a new coalition government, dominated by Conservatives but led by a Liberal Prime Minister. This arrangement fundamentally shifted the balance of power.
Key features of the new coalition included:
The creation of a small War Cabinet to ensure faster, centralised decision-making.
Lloyd George’s War Cabinet formed in December 1916 to concentrate strategic and administrative authority in a small executive. The image shows the core ministers responsible for wartime direction, illustrating the shift toward executive dominance discussed in the notes. Names and context are provided on the hosting page for precise identification. Source
Strengthened ties between government and military command, though Lloyd George often clashed with senior generals.
Greater reliance on Conservative support, ensuring a stable majority but at the cost of weakening the Liberal Party’s independence.
This government introduced a more authoritarian style, centralising power in the hands of Lloyd George and his closest advisers.
Splits in the Liberal Party
The war exacerbated existing tensions within the Liberal Party, leading to lasting damage.
Asquithian Liberals: Loyal to Asquith, they resented Lloyd George’s manoeuvring and reliance on Conservative allies. They saw his leadership as a betrayal of Liberal traditions of collective Cabinet responsibility.
Lloyd George Liberals: Backed the new coalition, prioritising national survival over party unity. They admired his decisiveness and readiness to modernise government structures.
This division became permanent, weakening the Liberals as a political force. The party’s inability to reunite after 1918 allowed the Labour Party to emerge as the principal alternative to the Conservatives.
Liberal Party Split: The division between supporters of Asquith and Lloyd George during the First World War, resulting in long-term decline of the Liberal Party.
The split was not merely personal but ideological, reflecting contrasting attitudes toward state intervention, wartime governance, and relations with the Conservatives.
Political Developments and Wartime Leadership
Beyond party divisions, leadership during the war introduced broader transformations in British politics.
Centralisation of Power
Lloyd George’s coalition represented a shift towards executive dominance. Traditional parliamentary oversight weakened as decisions were concentrated in the War Cabinet and in Lloyd George’s office. This was seen as necessary during wartime but raised concerns about democratic accountability.
Coalition Politics
The inclusion of Conservatives, Liberals, and Labour marked a new style of governance. While Labour played a relatively minor role, participation in government enhanced the party’s political legitimacy and prepared it for post-war growth.
Political Rivalries
Lloyd George vs. Asquith: The rivalry embittered Liberal politics and ensured that post-war reconciliation was impossible.
Lloyd George vs. Military Command: Lloyd George’s clashes with generals such as Sir Douglas Haig revealed tensions between civilian authority and military autonomy.
Long-Term Consequences
The Liberal Party’s decline was cemented by wartime splits.
The Conservatives emerged dominant, controlling the coalition from behind the scenes.
Labour gained credibility, setting the stage for its rise as the second major party by the 1920s.
Importance of Wartime Political Changes
The period of wartime leadership and political realignment fundamentally reshaped British party politics. The creation of the Lloyd George coalition, the decisive split in the Liberal Party, and the shift towards coalition governance and executive power left legacies that outlasted the war itself. These developments explain the transformation of Britain’s political landscape in the early twentieth century.
FAQ
Asquith was often criticised for being indecisive and overly reliant on lengthy Cabinet discussions. Critics argued that this slowed urgent decision-making in a wartime context.
His habit of balancing conflicting views within the Cabinet was effective in peacetime but seemed unsuited to the demands of rapid strategic and administrative action during total war.
Conservatives valued Lloyd George’s energy, pragmatism, and willingness to act decisively. His approach contrasted with Asquith’s cautious consensus-building.
Lloyd George supported centralised control of the war effort, including stronger direction of industry.
His style made Conservatives feel they had a more dependable and purposeful leader, even though he was a Liberal.
Lloyd George frequently clashed with generals such as Sir Douglas Haig. He distrusted their strategies, particularly the heavy reliance on attrition warfare.
These disputes highlighted the growing tension between civilian government and military leadership. They also reinforced Lloyd George’s preference for greater civilian control over strategy, which in turn reshaped Cabinet politics.
Labour ministers held relatively minor posts, but their inclusion was symbolically significant. It marked the first time Labour directly participated in governing the country.
This experience gave Labour:
Enhanced political legitimacy.
A platform to influence worker-related policies during the war.
Greater credibility as a national party in post-war politics.
The division between Asquithian and Lloyd George Liberals created lasting mistrust. Neither side could unite effectively to rebuild the party’s electoral strength.
The Conservatives dominated the Lloyd George coalition, leaving the Liberals dependent and fragmented. Meanwhile, Labour’s growing organisation and appeal to working-class voters made it the natural opposition to Conservatism, pushing the Liberals into long-term decline.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In what year did Lloyd George replace Asquith as Prime Minister during the First World War?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying the correct year.
The correct answer is 1916.
Award 0 marks for incorrect years or vague responses (e.g. “during the war”).
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two reasons why the creation of Lloyd George’s coalition government in 1916 was significant for British politics.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 3 marks per reason, maximum of 6 marks overall.
For each reason:
1 mark for identifying a valid reason (e.g. centralisation of power in a small War Cabinet).
1 mark for providing an explanation (e.g. this meant decisions were taken more quickly, increasing efficiency of wartime leadership).
1 mark for showing significance in the wider political context (e.g. reliance on Conservative support weakened the independence of the Liberal Party, contributing to its long-term decline).
Indicative content may include:
The creation of a small War Cabinet enabled faster, more centralised decision-making, showing a shift to executive dominance.
Lloyd George’s reliance on Conservatives for majority support weakened Liberal unity and deepened the party split.
Coalition politics legitimised Labour’s presence in government, strengthening its long-term role in national politics.
The coalition demonstrated how wartime crisis reshaped traditional parliamentary and party structures.
Maximum of two reasons explained.
