LABOUR LEADERS AND THE LIBERALS, 1906-24

The decline of the British Liberal party remains a matter for serious historical enquiry. This is not surprising, given its scale and speed. Some of the heat has gone from the controversy. For example, historians no longer come to blows (metaphorically at least) over the question of whether Stockport is part of Lancashire or Cheshire.1 Attempts to outflank the arguments of the ‘other side ’ have resulted in a series of local studies. These outflanking actions have produced some fine work and some that is perhaps less remarkable, but none has produced the knockout blow their authors have desired: they have tended to cancel each other out in a kind of historiographical trench warfare.2 Analyses of particular political issues have attempted to illustrate wider truths, although with somewhat conflicting conclusions as to the sustainability or otherwise of the Liberal party.3 Various categories have been employed as explanatory tools. None has entirely explained. At one time the decline of the Liberals and rise of Labour was thought to be due to the rise of class politics.4 It was then identifie