On This Day
15 June 1932
Death of Sir Donald Maclean, Liberal stalwart of the inter-war years
Donald Maclean sat as Liberal MP for Bath 1906-10, Peebles and Selkirk 1910-18, Peebles and Southern Midlothian 1918-22 and North Cornwall 1929-32. When Asquith lost his seat at the 1918 general election, Maclean was thrust into the leadership of the Liberal Parliamentary Party while Asquith retained formal leadership of the party overall. His leadership was an unexpected success, assaulting the Coalition’s Liberal pretentions and resucitating party organization in the country. His son was Donald Duart Maclean the spy who worked with Guy Burgess and Kim Philby.