Journal of Liberal History

‘Free trade’, the removal of barriers to international trade in goods and services, played a critical role in British politics in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Attitudes to free trade helped to define parties’ positions on the political spectrum. For much of its life, the fortunes of the Liberal Party were closely tied to the strength of popular feeling for free trade. In 1846 the repeal of the Corn Laws split the Conservative Party and drove its free-trade-supporting members – including W. E. Gladstone – towards the Liberals. In 1906, the Unionist plan to introduce imperial preference underpinned the landslide Liberal election victory. And in 1923, the Conservative plan to introduce tariffs helped reunite the warring Liberal factions led by Asquith and Lloyd George.

Now, thanks to Brexit and President Trump, trade and tariffs are back on the political agenda. Discuss the historical and current relevance of trade policy with Professor Frank Trentmann (Birkbeck College, author of Free Trade Nation) and Lord Chris Fox (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Business and Trade in the House of Lords).

This meeting will follow the AGM of the Liberal Democrat History Group, from 1800 to 1830.

Anyone unable to participate in person will be able to view the meeting via Zoom; registration will open in January. For those attending in person, there is no need to register.