On This Day
04 May 1911
David Lloyd George introduces the National Insurance Bill in the House of Commons
Despite a strained throat, Lloyd George spoke for over two hours outlining the government’s proposals and appealing for cross party support. Reactions on the first day were supportive and showed nothing of the battles to come. For the opposition Austen Chamberlain responded warmly, saying that every party wished to see the measure successfully carried, while support came from John Redmond for the Irish Nationalists and Ramsay MacDonald for Labour. After the debate Chamberlain wrote, ‘Confound Ll. George. He has strengthened the Government again. His sickness scheme is a good one…I must say I envy him the opportunity and I must admit that he has made good use of it.’