Liberal Unionism and political representation in Wales,c.1886-1893

2015/02/10 by Naomi Lloyd‐Jones · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Scottish History and National Identity #Historical Studies of British Isles #Irish and British Studies

paper · doi:10.1111/1468-2281.12092

openalex publication_date 2015/02/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

This article reassesses the history of Liberal Unionism in Wales and the impact the Irish Home Rule crisis had on constituency politics. Liberal associations played a crucial role in the revolt against ‘dissentient’ M.P.s, whom they charged with ‘misrepresenting’ constituency opinion (as articulated by the ‘caucus’). This damaged Liberal Unionism irreparably, and the party failed to build a viable organizational machinery that could beat the Liberals at their own game. Yet this study of failure tells us much about attitudes toward representation and illustrates the importance of a grass‐roots approach to a vital period in Welsh and British political history.

Citations

• British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918

Cited by

• Liberal Unionist Party [wikipedia]

Related

• The 1892 general election in England: Home Rule, the Newcastle programme and positive Unionism*
• The British Parliamentary Labour Party and the Government of Ireland Act 1920
• The 1892 General Election and the Eclipse of the Liberal Unionists
• Ulster unionist political divisions in the late twentieth century
• Prelude