FALL OF LLOYD GEORGE

Lloyd George had been supreme in British politics and his popularity has rarely been equalled. He was seen as the man who ‘won the war’. Although the leading conservatives favoured Lloyd George, this was being challenged by the back bench conservatives who were rising in ranks. Even his Lib supporters became to fall apart to the conservatives, labour and even to the Asquithian Liberals. Simply enough, the collapse of support was due to the conservatives simply opting to terminate their alliance. This happened also because of the looming 1923 election and the conservatives issue whether to split the coalition and all the parties fight it out as normal, which left no place for Lloyd George

He originally wanted to continue as Prime Minister, as did Bonar Law (who resigned due to terminal cancer) and succeeded by Austen Chamberlain. He and Balfour agreed to support Lloyd George, and organised a meeting in which the conservative leadership offered to support Lloyd George. It was known that the backbenchers were unwilling to support, and so if Chamberlain failed to convince, not only would the coalition disband, but his leadership position would falter, chamberlain believed he could do it.

The Carlton club meeting was what was arranged, Chamberlain and Balfour advocated the continuation of the coalition asking for the support. They were, countered by one Stanley Baldwin, an increasingly influential member who argued that they must give up Lloyd George or face being destroyed the same way that he had destroyed the Liberal Party (according to him) and that Lloyd George was a ‘Dynamic Force’ in politics, ‘The same thing will happen to our party’

Baldwin was actually supported by Bonar Law who had been temporarily restored to better health, as he had time to reflect and reassess the position and w how Lloyd George had being to cause concerns. His support was crucial because he could be PM and Baldwin could not, the backbenchers ended the coalition, and so the leading ministers resigned as did eventually Lloyd George. Bonar Law became PM, Baldwin Chancellor of Exchequer and Curzon Foreign secretary. Apart from that, the government was weak.

The Circumstances for the fall of Lloyd george maybe straightforward, but a number of factors lead to growing concerns to the Conservative Coalition.
- Many unhappy with LG’s handling of Ireland (conservatives were known as Unionists in the period before the war)
- Imperial affairs under coalition alienated conservative party members. As Egyptian independence which was key to route to India (suez canal) and the criticisms of the 379 indian demostrators who were shot at governmental level did not go down well
- Lloyd George although hostile to Communism, was also against intervention in the Russian civil war, and even did a trade with the Communist Russia.
- Lloyd George’s style too unconventional, rarely attending parliament and becoming very impatient
- He was known publicly as ‘The Goat’ and cheated on his wife with his lover.
- His attitude to the honours system created a scandal, he refused any for himself except for companion of honour which couldn’t be refused, he saw no reason not to cash into the snobbery of those who valued class, he sold Honours, 15,000 a knighthood, 25000 was baronetcy, and 50000 was a peerage. The proceeds were split between LG and the conservatives. Funs
- Lloyd george was heavily involved in foreign policy and almost caused another war between turkey. This was known as the Chanak crisis, as Turkish troops approached an allied position at Dardanelles. LG threatened force. This was seen as the final straw and provoked the Back bench revolt of Stanley Baldwin

SUMMARY
LG previously supreme in british politics. Leading cons supported but backbenchers started to doubt. His libs went to Cons, Lab and Asq-Libs often. His fall was due to cons opting out of coalition leaving no place for LG.
Wanted to Continue as PM, BL + Balfour then CHAM/BALF arranged carlton club meeting to argue point. Chamberlain believed he could reassert backbenchers. Countered by Baldwin ‘Dynamic force, split our party’
A temporary BL agreed. They all resigned, and formed a new if not weak gov.

Reason for collapse was he would split the party like he split libs, but series of events influenced their decisions
- Cons unhappy with Home Rule (unionists)
- Imperial affairs were criticised, made cons mad.
- Seen as lessening stand against Bolsh
- Unfamiliar style of gov, publicly known as a Womaniser
- Honours Scandal – Splitting of profits made
- Chanak crisis.