National Party (UK, 1917)
Encyclopedia
The National Party was a short-lived British political party created in August 1917 as a right-wing split from the Conservative Party
.
, Sir Richard Cooper and Sir Henry Page Croft. Its members took a particularly xenophobic line on the war and were also strongly opposed to the sale of honours. This was reflected in their aims, as outlined in the party's manifesto
:
and Rowland Hunt. The newly-formed party sought to widen its membership to include "men and women from all parties, not only in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but throughout the British Empire". Liberal Unionist Party MP Edward Fitzroy
also joined.
. Its policies included raising the conscription
age to fifty and introducing conscription to Ireland
, the closing of German banks and businesses in the UK, the internment of enemy aliens, a guaranteed price for home-grown cereals, protectionism for British industry and counter air-raids against German towns.
The close links the National Party alleged to exist between heads of companies and government departments which gave them contracts were attacked. In June 1918 its headquarters in King Street, London and a number of regional offices were raided by military officers and government officials when the party came into possession of leaked documents.
The National Party had policies to help the working class because "if you wish for a patriotic race, you must aim at a contented people, reared under healthy conditions...and with full scope for advancement". One of its slogans was "no restriction in wages in return for no restriction of output".
Occasionally, it co-operated with the National Democratic and Labour Party
. It published National Opinion from 1918 until 1923.
organisation linked with a faction of the Conservative Party, an attempt was made to merge the league with the National Party. This led to angry scenes, and the motion was eventually withdrawn. The chairman of the League, Lord Duncannon, resigned and announced he was joining the new party.
. There was a political truce between the parties of the wartime coalition government, and the seat was expected to be filled without a contest. However, the party nominated E B Barnard, chairman of the Metropolitan Water Board to oppose the government candidate, Edward Smallwood. A third candidate, A Baker, was supported by the right wing MP Noel Pemberton Billing
and the Vigilante Society. The party did poorly, with Barnard finishing in a distant third place with 513 votes. The party held its inaugural meeting two days later and the president, Lord Beresford
, declared himself "delighted" with the result which "would have the effect of putting more grit into those who were fighting" for the party.
. Instead they sought to make an alliance with the Labour Party
, which they saw as "the great party that was coming". They recognised that the five million working-class men under arms deserved improved conditions and status, and wished to "see what they could do to assist Labour". They also sought to make an alliance with the Merchant Seamen's League, supporting their aims of exacting punishment from the Germans for sinking ships in contravention of international law.
They were supported by the Earl of Bessborough
, his son the Lord Duncannon, the Lord Leith of Fyvie and the Duke of Somerset
. There were twenty-three National party candidates but only Cooper and Croft were returned to Parliament.
to help end the Lloyd George Coalition.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
Formation
The party was formed at the height of the First World War, by Lord AmpthillArthur Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill
Oliver Villiers Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill, GCSI, GCIE, DL, JP was a British peer, rower and administrator who served as the Governor of Madras from October 1900 to February 1906 and acted as the Viceroy of India from April to December 1904.Oliver Russell was born on February 19, 1869 to Odo...
, Sir Richard Cooper and Sir Henry Page Croft. Its members took a particularly xenophobic line on the war and were also strongly opposed to the sale of honours. This was reflected in their aims, as outlined in the party's manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
:
- The abandonment of sectarian, class or sectional interests in favour of a "national" policy.
- "Complete victory in the war and after the war"
- The provision of adequate men and munitions to win the war.
- "The eradication of German influence"
- What they termed "honest politics"
- Unity between employer and employed
- Maximum production from the farms and factories of the United Kingdom, with "fair wages" for the workers and "fair profits" for the employers
- Maintenance of the unity of the British EmpireBritish EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
- A social policy that would ensure "a contented, patriotic race".
- A process to allow for the demobilisation of soldiers and sailors and their reintegration into civilian life.
Membership
Several Conservative MPs joined the party, including Lt Col Richard Hamilton Rawson, Alan Burgoyne, Douglas George Carnegie, Cooper, Croft, Viscount DuncannonVere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough
Captain Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough was a British businessman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 14th since Canadian Confederation....
and Rowland Hunt. The newly-formed party sought to widen its membership to include "men and women from all parties, not only in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but throughout the British Empire". Liberal Unionist Party MP Edward Fitzroy
Edward FitzRoy
Captain Edward Algernon FitzRoy, DL was a British Conservative politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1928 until his death.FitzRoy was the second son of the 3rd Baron Southampton...
also joined.
Activities
The National Party held public meetings and petitioned the Prime Minister Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. Its policies included raising the conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
age to fifty and introducing conscription to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the closing of German banks and businesses in the UK, the internment of enemy aliens, a guaranteed price for home-grown cereals, protectionism for British industry and counter air-raids against German towns.
The close links the National Party alleged to exist between heads of companies and government departments which gave them contracts were attacked. In June 1918 its headquarters in King Street, London and a number of regional offices were raided by military officers and government officials when the party came into possession of leaked documents.
The National Party had policies to help the working class because "if you wish for a patriotic race, you must aim at a contented people, reared under healthy conditions...and with full scope for advancement". One of its slogans was "no restriction in wages in return for no restriction of output".
Occasionally, it co-operated with the National Democratic and Labour Party
National Democratic and Labour Party
The National Democratic and Labour Party, usually abbreviated to National Democratic Party , was a political party in the United Kingdom....
. It published National Opinion from 1918 until 1923.
Relationship with the Tariff Reform League
At the 1917 annual general meeting of the Tariff Reform League, a protectionistProtectionism
Protectionism is the economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "fair competition" between imports and goods and services produced domestically.This...
organisation linked with a faction of the Conservative Party, an attempt was made to merge the league with the National Party. This led to angry scenes, and the motion was eventually withdrawn. The chairman of the League, Lord Duncannon, resigned and announced he was joining the new party.
Islington East by-election
The National Party's first electoral contest was in October 1917, when a by-election was called due to the death of the sitting member of parliament for Islington EastIslington East (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington East was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.-1885–1918:...
. There was a political truce between the parties of the wartime coalition government, and the seat was expected to be filled without a contest. However, the party nominated E B Barnard, chairman of the Metropolitan Water Board to oppose the government candidate, Edward Smallwood. A third candidate, A Baker, was supported by the right wing MP Noel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing was an English aviator, inventor, publisher, and Member of Parliament. He founded the firm that became Supermarine and promoted air power, but he held a strong antipathy towards the Royal Aircraft Factory and its products...
and the Vigilante Society. The party did poorly, with Barnard finishing in a distant third place with 513 votes. The party held its inaugural meeting two days later and the president, Lord Beresford
Lord Charles Beresford
Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford GCB GCVO , styled Lord Charles Beresford between 1859 and 1916, was a British Admiral and Member of Parliament....
, declared himself "delighted" with the result which "would have the effect of putting more grit into those who were fighting" for the party.
Proposed co-operation with the Labour Party
The National Party leadership were implaccably opposed to the two main parties in parliament: the "defunct" Conservatives and the "discredited" LiberalsLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
. Instead they sought to make an alliance with the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, which they saw as "the great party that was coming". They recognised that the five million working-class men under arms deserved improved conditions and status, and wished to "see what they could do to assist Labour". They also sought to make an alliance with the Merchant Seamen's League, supporting their aims of exacting punishment from the Germans for sinking ships in contravention of international law.
1918 general election
Most of the party's members rejoined the Conservatives before the 1918 UK general election. Its remaining candidates ran against the Lloyd George Coalition.They were supported by the Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough
Earl of Bessborough is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1739 for Brabazon Ponsonby, 2nd Viscount Duncannon, who had previously represented Newtownards and County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons...
, his son the Lord Duncannon, the Lord Leith of Fyvie and the Duke of Somerset
Algernon Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset
Algernon St. Maur, later Seymour, 15th Duke of Somerset, etc. was the son of Algernon St. Maur, 14th Duke of Somerset and Horatia Morler. He was also a baronet....
. There were twenty-three National party candidates but only Cooper and Croft were returned to Parliament.
Disbandment
In April 1921 the National Party was disbanded but was revived under the new name of the National Constitutional Association, which held conventions and co-operated with the 4th Marquess of SalisburyJames Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury
James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, CB, PC , known as Viscount Cranborne from 1868 to 1903, was a British statesman.-Background and education:...
to help end the Lloyd George Coalition.