The decline of the Liberal party in the heart of England: the Liberals in Leicestershire, 1914-24

What is it about?

This article uses the county of Leicestershire to examine the decline of the Liberal Party from the outbreak of the First World War to the debacle of 1924, when they were reduced to forty MPs. It highlights that whilst the December crisis of 1916 was the beginning of the split within the Party, this was not inevitably permanent. It was the ‘Coupon Election’ of 1918 that widened the division and brought about a political realignment which changed the electoral landscape. This article shows that at the crucial formative period of the greatly enlarged electorate, Liberalism was divided at the grass-roots, enabling the success of the Conservative and Labour parties.

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Why is it important?

The micro study helps explain the decline of the Liberal Party.