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, and 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). Chair: Baroness Julie Smith.

Liberal Democrat History Group AGM, 6.00 – 6.30pm
This meeting will follow the AGM of the Liberal Democrat History Group, from 6.00pm to 6.30pm. The agenda and papers for the AGM will be posted on our website in the next couple of weeks. Participation in the AGM is limited to subscribers to the Journal of Liberal History, but anyone else is welcome to observe. 

Online access
Anyone unable to participate in person will be able to view the meeting via Zoom; to register, please click here (note that registration will close when the AGM starts). For those attending in person, there is no need to register.

Second-hand book sale, 5.00 – 6.00pm
Before the meeting, from 5.00 to 6.00pm, the NLC Library will be holding a second-hand book sale in the same room, focused primarily on Liberal history, politics and philosophy, drawing upon duplicates that have been donated. All proceeds will go towards the development of the NLC Library and enhancing its collection of Liberal material. If you are unable to attend but are interested in finding out what is available, please contact Derek McAuley, NLC Librarian.