David Dutton

It would be an understatement to say that the Liberal Party which used to dominate British politics has had a bad century. From a general election triumph in 1906 and one of the most productive and significant periods of governance in British history the Liberal party declined to a barely viable rump by the middle of the twentieth century, only to persevere to the point of taking office once more as part of a coalition government in 2010. David Dutton's book offers an excellent account of this era, one focused on the central strategies of the party leadership. He takes stances on many historical controversies that are well argued and fairly convincing, showing how the party's decline in the early 20th century was the result of no one factor but of a combination of a internal divisions, personality conflicts, and a changing class-based electorate. Though his focus is on political developments and party administration he does not neglect the ideological side, seeing it a a critical component of the party's appeals to the populace. Overall this is a superb starting point for anyone seeking to understand the Liberal Party's decline and stubborn survival over the course of a momentous age.… (mais)