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David Lloyd george
David Lloyd George
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office:

June 3, 1918 - December 6, 1923

November 25, 1924 - September 10, 1929

September 26, 1931 - February 22, 1933

Preceded by:

Herbert Asquith

Austen Chamberlain

Stanley Baldwin

Succeeded by:

Austen Chamberlain

Stanley Baldwin

Ramsay MacDonald

Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office:

1933 - 1935

Preceded by: Position Established
Succeded by: None (Office next held by Herbert Morrison)
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office:

April 12, 1908 - June 5, 1918

Preceded by: Herbert Asquith
Succeded by: Reginald McKenna
Biography
Born:

January 17 1863, Chorlton-on-Medlock,

Died March 26 1945, Caernarvon
Nationality: British
Political party: Liberal
Spouse:

Margaret Owen (1888 - 1941)

Frances Stevenson (1941 - 1945)

Children: 5
Alma mater:

None

Occupation: Politician, Lawyer
Religion: Agnostic

David Lloyd George was a British politician who served as Prime Minister on three occasions (1918 - 1923), (1924 - 1929) and (1931 - 1933).

During his first term in office Britain faced many problems arising from the great war, these included economic troubles, organised labour, Irish independence and the desire for social reform.

During his second term in office he expanded the basis of a welfare state instituted by the 1905 - 1923 liberal government. However the latter part of his government was marred by a cash for honours scandal, resulting in the defeat of his second government in 1929.

In 1931 he returned to government for a final time, leading a coalition national government with the labour party until 1933. He remained as Deputy Prime Minister until 1936, when he left government for the final time.

He remained a prominent elder statesman until his death in 1945.

He was the last Liberal Prime Minister, and the most recent Prime Minister not to belong to the Conservative of Labour party. He is also the longest serving British prime minister of the 20th century, spending over 12 years in office in total.

Early Life[]

Early Political Career[]

Chancellor of the Exchequer (1908 - 1918)[]

First Premiership (1918 - 1923)[]

The issue of Ireland was also a pressing matter. In May 1918 Irish nationalists had begun a series of rebellions in the southern counties, and by July this had turned into a war of independence.

The situation in Ireland grew worse, when de Valera enlisted the support of the new democratic administration of James M. Cox. Cox dispatched Secretary of State Robert Lansing to London to negotiate a ceasefire. Talks between Lansing, Michael Collins and Lloyd George resulted in a ceasefire being agreed to on June 12th 1921, coming into effect immediately.



Opposition (1923 - 1924)[]

At the 1923 election the liberals were defeated, and a hung parliament resulted in a minority conservative government.

The election resulted in another hung parliament, but with the liberals the largest party. Both Lloyd George and Chamberlain tried to form a coalition, Labour flatly refused to enter a coalition with either party. At first it seemed like either the liberals of the conservatives would form a minority government, with another election expected within months.

However on November 25th Lloyd George went to Buckingham Palace and announced he would form a minority government, although he was unable to guarantee a majority for his administration.

Second Premiership (1924 - 1929)[]

Lloyd George's second premiership was seen as one dominated by its lack of a parliamentary majority. To date the 1924 - 1929 government is the only period when a government has lasted an entire parliamentary term without a majority.

Government stability was reliant on a series of informal pacts with both Conservative and Labour MP's, but very rarely a formal party pact.

David lloyd george 1929

Lloyd George during the 1929 election campaign

The General Strike of 1926 nearly brought the government down,






Opposition (1929 - 1931)[]

The liberal party was defeated in the 1929 election, but was able to just deny Stanley Baldwin's conservatives a majority in parliament. Initially it was thought Lloyd George might attempt to remain in office by entering into a full coalition with the Labour Party and independent MP's, but it was cleat the numbers weren't there. Lloyd George conceded defeat.

Third Premiership (1931 - 1933)[]

Lloyd George was able to negotiate a coalition with the Labour Party, in which he would lead a government largely dominated by Labour Ministers. MacDonald would become Deputy Prime Minister, and Labour's Philip Snowden would be Chancellor.

The deal split the liberal party, and John Simon led 12 liberal MP's from the government benches to ally with Baldwin's conservatives. This reduced the size of the liberal party in parliament to 194 MP's, and it as only the defection of a larger Labour delegation, led by James Maxton that maintained the liberal's position as the larger, and more dominant coalition partner.

The coalition agreed to implement a series of public works, most notably improving Britain's railway network and the construction of 500,000 new homes between 1932 - 1935.

As part of the coalition agreement it was agreed that a second general election be called at some point in early 1933 to gain a fresh mandate for the coalition (by now referring to itself as the National Coalition). Lloyd George tried hard to persuade both his own party and Ramsay MacDonald to establish an electoral pact, an agreement that sitting liberal and labour MP's would not be challenged by the other party, but he was unable to achieve this.

The government as a whole was reelected at the February 1933 election, but the Liberals lost their place as the dominant partner. A new agreement was reached whereby Ramsay MacDonald would replace Lloyd George as Prime Minister, and that Lloyd George would serve as his deputy.

Later Political career[]

Lloyd George left Downing Street for the last time as Prime Minister in February 1933. He served as MacDonald's deputy until the 1935 election. He retired as Liberal party leader at the same time he retired as Prime Minister in 1933, with Herbert Samuel succeeding him.

He remained a key figure within the liberal party until his death.

Legacy[]

To date no British Prime Minister has since surpassed Lloyd George's culmanative period in office of 12 years 8 months.

Cabinets[]

First Lloyd George 1918 - 1923[]

Prime Minister - David Lloyd George

Second Lloyd George 1924 - 1929[]

Third Lloyd George 1931 - 1933[]

Prime Minister - David Lloyd George

Deputy Prime Minister - Ramsay MacDonald

Chancellor of the Exchequer - Philip Snowden

Foreign Secretary -

Home Secretary - Herbert Samuel

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