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Asquith, Pensions, & the Balkans
In 1908 Campbell-Bannerman died and H H Asquith became Prime Minister. The Liberals cut the naval budget. Instead of four Dreadnoughts the Navy would now only get two. A celebration of the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale of 1904 was staged in 1908 at Shepherd's Bush with an exhibition named the White City after its centrepiece - a collection of white oriental palaces over a lake setting.
H H Asquith |
HERBERT HENRY ASQUITH (1852-1928) First Earl of Oxford and Asquith (from 1925)- Prime Minister 1908 to 1916
- An orphan
- Born in Yorkshire and educated at Balliol College, Oxford
- Became a barrister and then a politician in 1886
- Went to Westminster as a Gladstonian Liberal representing East Fife
- Aappointed Home Secretary in 1892 in Gladstone's last administration
- Constantly conflicted with Campbell-Bannerman
- In May 1903 he led the opposition to Joseph Chamberlain on the issue of tariff reform, supporting Free Trade
- Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer and Deputy Leader of the Commons and became leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister in 1908
- Oversaw the Parliament Act of 1911, Old Age Pensions, Suffragettes and the Irish Nationalist Party
- Home Rule was finally granted in 1914
- A 'palace coup' resulted in Lloyd George taking over from him in 1916
- This split the Liberals and contributed to Liberal decline
Non-contributory Old Age Pensions were introduced in 1908.
An Extract From H H Asquith'S Letter To His Wife From Biarritz Where He Was Summoned By Edward Vii Who Was On Holiday There
Hotel du Palais, Biarritz, eighth of April, nineteen hundred and eight. Darling . . . I am comfortably lodged in the King's hotel. This morning I put on a frock-coat, and escorted by Fritz and old Stanley Clarke, went to the King who was similarly attired. I presented him with my written resignation of the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer; and he then said "I appoint you Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury" whereupon I knelt down and kissed his hand. Voil脿 tout! He then asked me to come into the next room and breakfast with him. We were quite alone for an hour and I went over all the appointments with him. He made no objections to any of them and discussed the various men very freely and with a good deal of shrewdness.
 
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| 1903 | Chamberlain resigns to campaign for tariff reform
The Women's Social and Political Union is founded by
Emmeline Pankhurst
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| 1904 | The Russo-Japanese War begins
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| 1905 | Campbell-Bannerman becomes Prime Minister
The first motor buses are seen in London
The Piccadilly and Bakerloo tube lines open
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| 1906 | Trade Disputes Act is passed
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| 1907 | Anglo-Russian entente is formed
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| 1908 | Campbell-Bannerman dies
Asquith becomes Prime Minister
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| 1909 | Old Age Pensions are introduced
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| 1910 | Edward VII dies
George V becomes king
The Union of South Africa is established
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| 1911 | National Insurance Acts are passed
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| 1912 | Scott reaches the South Pole
The Balkan Wars break out
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| 1913 | Trade Union and Cat and Mouse Acts are passed
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