Liberal government, 1905–1915


The Liberal government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1905 and ended in 1915 consisted of two ministries: the first led by Henry Campbell-Bannerman and the final three by H. H. Asquith.

Formation

With the fall of Arthur Balfour's Conservative government in the United Kingdom in December 1905, the Liberals under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman were called in to form a government. In the subsequent election, the Liberals won an enormous majority. Campbell-Bannerman was succeeded as prime minister by H. H. Asquith in 1908.

Policies

The Liberal government was supported by 29 Labour Party MPs. Chancellor David Lloyd George crafted the People's Budget and introduced a great deal of social legislation, such as old age pensions and unemployment insurance for a significant part of the working population. For many working people, for whom in old age the threat of the workhouse was very real, these represented a very significant change. Equally groundbreaking was the Parliament Act 1911 which:
Many of the members of Asquith's cabinet, however, opposed the social measures promulgated by leading figures such as Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George. This resistance was arguably a reflection of the extent to which many Liberals still adhered to the Party's Gladstonian, classical liberal tradition in spite of the growth of the "New Liberalism". Morley was opposed to both old-age pensions and the provisions of the Trade Boards Act of 1909, while Runciman was against the eight-hour day for miners and compensation for workers. Burns, Bryce, Loreburn, and W.S. Robson were opposed to land reform, insurance, and the feeding of schoolchildren, while several cabinet members were critical of Lloyd George's progressive "People's Budget." Nevertheless, according to Neil Smith, the majority of the members of the Edwardian Liberal Cabinets were supportive of social reform and social progress. As noted by one study,
They sought to respond to the discontent of the electorate by using the existing structure of government to correct the ills of society through innovative legislation. Two-thirds of the Liberal candidates, including Edwin Montagu, had pledged support for such measures during the campaign. While their support was often expressed in general terms, their intent was clear: Social and economic reform must be the first order of the new government.

Fate

Although the government lost a great deal of support by the two general elections of 1910, they managed to hold on by dint of support from the Irish Parliamentary Party. After early mismanagement during the First World War, particularly the failure of the Dardanelles Campaign, Asquith was forced to bring the Unionists into the government in a coalition.

Cabinets

Campbell-Bannerman ministry

OfficeNameTerm
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
H. H. AsquithMay 1908 – May 1915
Lord ChancellorThe Lord LoreburnApril 1908 – June 1912
Lord ChancellorThe Viscount HaldaneJune 1912 – May 1915
Lord President of the CouncilThe Lord TweedmouthApril–September 1908
Lord President of the CouncilThe Viscount WolverhamptonSeptember 1908 – June 1910
Lord President of the CouncilThe Earl BeauchampJune–November 1910
Lord President of the CouncilThe Viscount Morley of BlackburnNovember 1910 – August 1914
Lord President of the CouncilThe Earl BeauchampAugust 1914 – May 1915
Lord Privy SealThe Marquess of RiponMay–October 1908
Lord Privy SealThe Earl of CreweOctober 1908 – October 1911
Lord Privy SealThe Earl CarringtonOctober 1911 – February 1912
Lord Privy SealThe Marquess of CreweFebruary 1912 – May 1915
Chancellor of the ExchequerDavid Lloyd GeorgeMay 1908 – May 1915
Home SecretaryHerbert GladstoneMay 1908 – February 1910
Home SecretaryWinston ChurchillFebruary 1910 – October 1911
Home SecretaryReginald McKennaOctober 1911 – May 1915
Foreign SecretarySir Edward Grey, BtMay 1908 – May 1915
Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Earl of CreweMay 1908 – November 1910
Secretary of State for the ColoniesLewis HarcourtNovember 1910 – May 1915
Secretary of State for WarRichard HaldaneMay 1908 – June 1912
Secretary of State for WarJack SeelyJune 1912 – March 1914
Secretary of State for WarH. H. AsquithMarch–August 1914
Secretary of State for WarThe Earl KitchenerAugust 1914 – May 1915
Secretary of State for IndiaThe Viscount Morley of BlackburnMay 1908 – November 1910
Secretary of State for IndiaThe Earl of CreweNovember 1910 – May 1915
First Lord of the AdmiraltyReginald McKennaMay 1908 – October 1911
First Lord of the AdmiraltyWinston ChurchillOctober 1911 – May 1915
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Viscount WolverhamptonMay–September 1908
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Lord FitzMauriceSeptember 1908 – June 1909
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterHerbert SamuelJune 1909 – May 1910
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterJoseph PeaseMay 1910 – October 1911
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterCharles HobhouseOctober 1911 – February 1914
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterCharles MastermanFebruary 1914 – January 1915
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterEdwin Samuel MontaguJanuary–May 1915
President of the Board of TradeWinston ChurchillMay 1908 – February 1910
President of the Board of TradeSydney BuxtonFebruary 1910 – February 1914
President of the Board of TradeJohn BurnsFebruary–August 1914
President of the Board of TradeWalter RuncimanAugust 1914 – May 1915
Secretary for ScotlandJohn SinclairMay 1908 – February 1912
Secretary for ScotlandThomas McKinnon WoodFebruary 1912 – May 1915
Chief Secretary for IrelandAugustine BirrellMay 1908 – May 1915
President of the Local Government BoardJohn BurnsMay 1908 – February 1914
President of the Local Government BoardHerbert SamuelFebruary 1914 – May 1915`
President of the Board of AgricultureThe Earl CarringtonMay 1908 – October 1911
President of the Board of AgricultureWalter RuncimanOctober 1911 – August 1914
President of the Board of AgricultureThe Lord LucasAugust 1914 – May 1915
President of the Board of EducationWalter RuncimanMay 1908 – October 1911
President of the Board of EducationJoseph PeaseOctober 1911 – May 1915
Postmaster GeneralSydney BuxtonMay 1908 – February 1910
Postmaster GeneralHerbert SamuelFebruary 1910 – February 1914
Postmaster GeneralCharles HobhouseFebruary 1914 – May 1915
First Commissioner of WorksLewis HarcourtMay 1908 – November 1910
First Commissioner of WorksThe Earl BeauchampNovember 1910 – August 1914
First Commissioner of WorksThe Lord EmmottAugust 1914 – May 1915
Attorney GeneralSir Rufus IsaacsJune 1912 – October 1913
Attorney GeneralSir John SimonOctober 1913 – May 1915

Changes

Members of the cabinet are in bold face.
OfficeNameDate
Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury
and Leader of the House of Commons
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman5 December 1905
Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury
and Leader of the House of Commons
H. H. Asquith5 April 190825 May 1915
Chancellor of the ExchequerH. H. Asquith10 December 1905
Chancellor of the ExchequerDavid Lloyd George12 April 1908
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
and Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons
George Whiteley12 December 1905
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
and Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons
Jack Pease3 June 1908
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
and Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons
The Master of Elibank14 February 1910
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
and Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons
Percy Illingworth7 August 1912
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
and Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons
John Gulland24 January 1915
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryReginald McKenna12 December 1905
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryWalter Runciman29 January 1907
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryCharles Hobhouse12 April 1908
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryThomas McKinnon Wood23 October 1911
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryCharles Masterman13 February 1912
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryEdwin Montagu11 February 1914
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryFrancis Dyke Acland3 February 1915
Junior Lords of the TreasuryHerbert Lewis18 December 19057 July 1909
Junior Lords of the TreasuryJack Pease18 December 19053 June 1908
Junior Lords of the TreasuryFreeman Freeman-Thomas21 December 19052 February 1906
Junior Lords of the TreasuryCecil Norton21 December 19057 July 1909
Junior Lords of the TreasuryJohn Fuller2 February 190627 February 1907
Junior Lords of the TreasuryJohn Henry Whitley27 February 190720 February 1910
Junior Lords of the TreasuryOswald Partington7 July 190919 January 1911
Junior Lords of the TreasuryJohn Gulland7 July 190924 January 1915
Junior Lords of the TreasuryWilliam Wedgwood Benn20 February 191025 May 1915
Junior Lords of the TreasuryErnest Soares20 February 191016 April 1911
Junior Lords of the TreasuryPercy Illingworth28 February 19107 August 1912
Junior Lords of the TreasuryWilliam Jones19 January 191125 May 1915
Junior Lords of the TreasuryFreddie Guest16 April 191121 February 1912
Junior Lords of the TreasurySir Arthur Haworth23 February 191216 April 1912
Junior Lords of the TreasuryHenry Webb16 April 191225 May 1915
Junior Lords of the TreasuryCecil Beck3 February 191525 May 1915
Junior Lords of the TreasuryWalter Rea3 February 191525 May 1915
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Loreburn10 December 1905
Lord ChancellorThe Viscount Haldane10 June 1912
Lord President of the CouncilThe Earl of Crewe10 December 1905
Lord President of the CouncilThe Lord Tweedmouth12 April 1908
Lord President of the CouncilThe Viscount Wolverhampton13 October 1908
Lord President of the CouncilThe Earl Beauchamp16 June 1910
Lord President of the CouncilThe Viscount Morley of Blackburn3 November 1910
Lord President of the CouncilThe Earl Beauchamp5 August 1914
Lord Privy SealThe Marquess of Ripon10 December 1905
Lord Privy SealThe Earl of Crewe9 October 1908
Lord Privy SealThe Earl Carrington23 October 1911
Lord Privy SealThe Marquess of Crewe13 February 1912
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentHerbert Gladstone10 December 1905
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentWinston Churchill14 February 1910
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentReginald McKenna23 October 1911
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentHerbert Samuel12 December 1905
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentCharles Masterman7 July 1909
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentEllis Ellis-Griffith19 February 1912
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentCecil Harmsworth4 February 1915
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsSir Edward Grey10 December 1905
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsLord Edmond Fitzmaurice18 December 1905
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsThomas McKinnon Wood19 October 1908
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsFrancis Dyke Acland23 October 1911
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsNeil Primrose4 February 1915
Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Earl of Elgin10 December 1905
Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Earl of Crewe12 April 1908
Secretary of State for the ColoniesLewis Harcourt3 November 1910
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesWinston Churchill12 December 1905
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesJ. E. B. Seely12 April 1908
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Lord Lucas of Crudwell23 March 1911
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Lord Emmott23 October 1911
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Lord Islington10 August 1915
Secretary of State for WarRichard Haldane10 December 1905
Secretary of State for WarJ. E. B. Seely12 June 1912
Secretary of State for WarH. H. Asquith30 March 1914
Secretary of State for WarThe Earl Kitchener5 August 1914
Under-Secretary of State for WarThe Earl of Portsmouth12 December 1905
Under-Secretary of State for WarThe Lord Lucas of Crudwell12 April 1908
Under-Secretary of State for WarJ. E. B. Seely23 March 1911
Under-Secretary of State for WarHarold Tennant14 June 1912
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeThomas Buchanan14 December 1905
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeFrancis Dyke Acland12 April 1908
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeCharles Mallet4 March 1910
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeFrancis Dyke Acland31 January 1911
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeHarold Tennant25 October 1911
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeHarold Baker14 June 1912
Secretary of State for IndiaJohn Morley10 December 1905
Secretary of State for IndiaThe Earl of Crewe3 November 1910
Secretary of State for IndiaThe Viscount Morley of Blackburn7 March 1911
Secretary of State for IndiaThe Earl of Crewe25 May 1911
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaJohn Ellis12 December 1905
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaCharles Hobhouse29 January 1907
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaThomas Buchanan12 April 1908
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaThe Master of Elibank5 June 1909
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaEdwin Montagu20 February 1910
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaCharles Roberts17 February 1914
First Lord of the AdmiraltyThe Lord Tweedmouth10 December 1905
First Lord of the AdmiraltyReginald McKenna12 April 1908
First Lord of the AdmiraltyWinston Churchill23 October 1911
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the AdmiraltyEdmund Robertson12 December 1905
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the AdmiraltyThomas Macnamara13 April 1908
Civil Lord of the AdmiraltyGeorge Lambert18 December 1905
President of the Board of Agriculture and FisheriesThe Earl Carrington10 December 1905
President of the Board of Agriculture and FisheriesWalter Runciman23 October 1911
President of the Board of Agriculture and FisheriesThe Lord Lucas of Crudwell6 August 1914
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and FisheriesSir Edward Strachey20 December 1909
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and FisheriesThe Lord Lucas23 October 1911
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and FisheriesSir Harry Verney10 August 1914
President of the Board of EducationAugustine Birrell10 December 1905
President of the Board of EducationReginald McKenna23 January 1907
President of the Board of EducationWalter Runciman12 April 1908
President of the Board of EducationJack Pease23 October 1911
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of EducationThomas Lough18 December 1905
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of EducationThomas McKinnon Wood13 April 1908
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of EducationSir Charles Trevelyan19 October 1908
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of EducationChristopher Addison10 August 1914
Chief Secretary for IrelandJames Bryce10 December 1905
Chief Secretary for IrelandAugustine Birrell23 January 1907
Vice President of the Department of Agriculture for IrelandSir Horace Plunkett12 December 1905
Vice President of the Department of Agriculture for IrelandThomas Russell21 May 1907
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterSir Henry Fowler10 December 1905
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Lord Fitzmaurice13 October 1908
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterHerbert Samuel25 June 1909
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterJack Pease14 February 1910
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterCharles Hobhouse23 October 1911
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterCharles Masterman11 February 1914
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterEdwin Montagu3 February 1915
President of the Local Government BoardJohn Burns10 December 1905
President of the Local Government BoardHerbert Samuel11 February 1914
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government BoardWalter Runciman18 December 1905
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government BoardThomas Macnamara29 January 1907
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government BoardCharles Masterman12 April 1908
Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government BoardHerbert Lewis7 July 1909
Paymaster-GeneralRichard Causton12 December 1905
Paymaster-GeneralIvor Guest23 February 1910
Paymaster-GeneralThe Lord Strachie23 May 1912
Postmaster-GeneralSydney Buxton10 December 1905
Postmaster-GeneralHerbert Samuel14 February 1910
Postmaster-GeneralCharles Hobhouse11 February 1914
Assistant Postmaster-GeneralSir Henry Norman3 January 1910
Assistant Postmaster-GeneralCecil Norton20 February 1910
Secretary for ScotlandJohn Sinclair12 April 1908
Secretary for ScotlandThomas McKinnon Wood13 February 1912
President of the Board of TradeDavid Lloyd George10 December 1905
President of the Board of TradeWinston Churchill12 April 1908
President of the Board of TradeSydney Buxton14 February 1910
President of the Board of TradeJohn Burns11 February 1914
President of the Board of TradeWalter Runciman5 August 1914
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of TradeHudson Kearley18 December 1905
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of TradeHarold Tennant10 January 1909
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of TradeJ. M. Robertson25 October 1911
First Commissioner of WorksLewis Harcourt10 December 1905
First Commissioner of WorksThe Earl Beauchamp3 November 1910
First Commissioner of WorksThe Lord Emmott6 August 1914
Attorney GeneralSir John Lawson Walton12 December 1905
Attorney GeneralSir William Robson28 January 1908
Attorney GeneralSir Rufus Isaacs7 October 1910
Attorney GeneralSir John Simon19 October 1913
Solicitor GeneralSir William Robson12 December 1905
Solicitor GeneralSir Samuel Thomas Evans28 January 1908
Solicitor GeneralSir Rufus Isaacs6 March 1910
Solicitor GeneralSir John Simon7 October 1910
Solicitor GeneralSir Stanley Buckmaster19 October 1913
Lord AdvocateThomas Shaw12 December 1905
Lord AdvocateAlexander Ure14 February 1909
Lord AdvocateRobert Munro30 October 1913
Solicitor General for ScotlandAlexander Ure18 December 1905
Solicitor General for ScotlandArthur Dewar18 February 1909
Solicitor General for ScotlandWilliam Hunter18 April 1910
Solicitor General for ScotlandAndrew Anderson3 December 1911
Solicitor General for ScotlandThomas Morison30 October 1913
Attorney General for IrelandRichard Cherry20 December 1905
Attorney General for IrelandRedmond Barry2 December 1909
Attorney General for IrelandCharles O'Connor26 September 1911
Attorney General for IrelandIgnatius O'Brien24 June 1912
Attorney General for IrelandThomas Molony10 April 1913
Attorney General for IrelandJohn Moriarty20 June 1913
Attorney General for IrelandJonathan Pim1 July 1914
Solicitor General for IrelandRedmond Barry20 December 1905
Solicitor General for IrelandCharles O'Connor2 December 1909
Solicitor General for IrelandIgnatius O'Brien19 October 1911
Solicitor General for IrelandThomas Molony24 June 1912
Solicitor General for IrelandJohn Moriarty25 April 1913
Solicitor General for IrelandJonathan Pim20 June 1913
Solicitor General for IrelandJames O'Connor1 July 1914
Lord Steward of the HouseholdThe Lord Hawkesbury18 December 1905
Lord Steward of the HouseholdThe Earl Beauchamp31 July 1907
Lord Steward of the HouseholdThe Earl of Chesterfield22 June 1910
Lord Chamberlain of the HouseholdThe Viscount Althorp18 December 1905
Lord Chamberlain of the HouseholdThe Lord Sandhurst14 February 1912
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdWentworth Beaumont18 December 1905
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdJohn Fuller27 February 1907
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdGeoffrey Howard6 February 1911
Master of the HorseThe Earl of Sefton18 December 1905
Master of the HorseThe Earl of Granard6 September 1907
Treasurer of the HouseholdSir Edward Strachey18 December 1905
Treasurer of the HouseholdWilliam Dudley Ward20 December 1909
Treasurer of the HouseholdFreddie Guest21 February 1912
Comptroller of the HouseholdThe Master of Elibank18 December 1905
Comptroller of the HouseholdThe Earl of Liverpool12 July 1909
Comptroller of the HouseholdThe Lord Saye and Sele1 November 1912
Government Chief Whip in the House of LordsThe Lord Ribblesdale18 December 1905
Government Chief Whip in the House of LordsThe Lord Denman29 May 1907
Government Chief Whip in the House of LordsThe Lord Colebrooke15 March 1911
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Earl Beauchamp18 December 1905
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Lord Denman31 July 1907
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Lord Colebrooke26 June 1911
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Duke of Manchester18 December 1905
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Lord Allendale29 April 1907
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Earl of Craven2 October 1911
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Denman18 December 190531 July 1907
Lords in WaitingThe Earl of Granard18 December 190521 August 1907
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Acton18 December 190525 May 1915
Lords in WaitingThe Earl Granville18 December 190525 May 1915
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Hamilton of Dalzell18 December 19052 October 1911
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Colebrooke21 February 190626 June 1911
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Herschell31 July 190725 May 1915
Lords in WaitingThe Lord O'Hagan1 November 190715 April 1910
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Tweedmouth15 April 19104 December 1911
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Willingdon19 July 1911 31 January 1913
Lords in WaitingThe Viscount Allendale2 October 191125 May 1915
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Ashby St Ledgers31 January 19138 February 1915
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Stanmore1 May 191425 May 1915
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Ranksborough8 February 191525 May 1915
Lords in Waiting--

;Notes

Primary sources and year books