‘David Lloyd George fell from Grace in 1922 as a result of his own mistakes after 1918’. Assess validity of this statement
Lloyd George fell from grace as a result of his mistakes after 1918 to a certain extent, as circumstances that Lloyd George was exposed to work under where exceptionally complicated and unexpected for example the outbreak of war and its negative economic, political and social impact which would have been strenuous on anyone in his situation. Nevertheless Lloyd George’s decisions and his presidential style of functioning resulted in him falling ‘from grace’ in 1922.
The First World War was much more damaging to the Liberals than to the other parties as they suffered extremely damaging leadership split. In contrast the Conservatives gained experience of government through the coalition and came to appear a sounder party of government than the Liberals. Labour was also involved in managing the war effort; they gained support through the growing support of the Trade union membership.
The rivalry between Lloyd George and Asquith was a major factor in the decline of Lloyd George’s support as he was blamed for splitting the Liberal party. It started in 1916 and carried on until Asquith resigned as leader of the party ten years later. Though it was particularly damaging between 1916 and 1922 when it prevented the party from deciding how it might adapt to the post-war world.
In the war years and the election campaign of December 1918, Lloyd George and his coalition government attempted to use their wartime record of social improvement to appeal to the new mass electorate created by the Representation of the People Act. Which had little effect on the position of women, as they returned back to domestic service, women were paid less and kept out of unions. Which suggest Lloyd George did little to change women’s position in British society and politics in turn explains why he fell in grace in the eyes of a section of the population. A ministry of Health had been established and a hospital building programme was unveiled. There was to be fully compulsory education for all up to 14 and more nursery and 14-16 places. In particular, the need to improve the poor state of Britain’s housing was recognised by Lloyd George himself, who spoke of ‘homes fit for heroes’. With the economic depression of 1920-21, however many of these schemes were significantly reduced in scale, in the so-called ‘Geddes Axe’ which cut £64 million of government expenditure, prompting the resignation of his Liberal Minister of Health, Christopher Addison. Although these measures were largely forced on Lloyd George, as Prime Minister, he had to bear ultimate responsibility for an episode, which damaged his pre-war reputation as a radical reformer.
