Ditchers: Difference between revisions
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The '''Ditchers''' |
The '''Ditchers''' or '''Diehards''' were groupings of British nobility, so called because they were prepared to stand in a "last-ditch" stand against the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[government]]'s reforms to the [[constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Letter to Lord Willoughby de Broke|url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/houseoflords/house-of-lords-reform/from-the-collections/from-the-parliamentary-collections-the-parliament-act/max-tilney-letter/|publisher=www.parliament.uk|accessdate=26 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Dennis|first=Alfred L. P.|title=The Parliament Act of 1911, II|journal=The American Political Science Review|date=August 1912|volume=6|issue=3|pages=386–408|jstor=1944526|doi=10.2307/1944526}}</ref> |
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==1911 Act== |
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Many of the "Last Ditchers" were Tory farmers and landowners, who refused to surrender the political power that went with social superiority. But the aristocracy had been in decline, since the inexorable rise of business and merchant middle-class [[capitalists]] during the [[Edwardian era]]. Their entry in the Commons, and enfranchisement of the working-classes in the 1884-5 reform acts had already marked a significant shift of power. [[Government]] interventionism from devolution was threatening stability without control over local finance. The Naval Arms "Dreadnought" Race was very costly: it had done nothing to prevent world war by 1914, and Irish terrorism since 1881. However, the Government of Ireland Bill was delayed its enactment in August 1914, the very day war broke out. |
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Many of the nobility were determined to prevent [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[David Lloyd George]]'s [[Parliament Act 1911]]. The Lords had blocked the Supply Bill, the so-called People's budget of 1909, which Lloyd George had introduced to increase taxation, and increase [[welfarism]]. The 1911 Act nevertheless went through, after threats were made by the Liberal Government that they would advise the King to pack the Lords with 500 new Liberal Peers, which he would have difficulty in refusing under constitutional measures in place. It presented a ''fait accompli'' to the Lords by removing their 900 year-old right to block Bills coming up from the [[House of Commons]]. No longer could the Lords forestall legislation. The new power to delay was restricted to a period of two years only. |
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Many of the "Last Ditchers" or "Die-Hards" were Tory farmers, landowners, and [[aristocracy]], who opposed the social 'equalitarian' reforms made by Liberal Governments in government and the judiciary since at least 1880, eroding the traditional political power that went with aristocratic social superiority. The inexorable rise of business and merchant middle-class [[capitalists]] in the second half of the nineteenth century appeared to reach a climax during the [[Edwardian era]]. Their entry into the Commons, assisted by the enfranchisement of the working-classes in the 1884-5 Reform Acts, had already marked a significant shift of power. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 16:27, 24 October 2019
The Ditchers or Diehards were groupings of British nobility, so called because they were prepared to stand in a "last-ditch" stand against the Liberal government's reforms to the constitution.[1][2]
1911 Act
Many of the nobility were determined to prevent Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George's Parliament Act 1911. The Lords had blocked the Supply Bill, the so-called People's budget of 1909, which Lloyd George had introduced to increase taxation, and increase welfarism. The 1911 Act nevertheless went through, after threats were made by the Liberal Government that they would advise the King to pack the Lords with 500 new Liberal Peers, which he would have difficulty in refusing under constitutional measures in place. It presented a fait accompli to the Lords by removing their 900 year-old right to block Bills coming up from the House of Commons. No longer could the Lords forestall legislation. The new power to delay was restricted to a period of two years only.
Many of the "Last Ditchers" or "Die-Hards" were Tory farmers, landowners, and aristocracy, who opposed the social 'equalitarian' reforms made by Liberal Governments in government and the judiciary since at least 1880, eroding the traditional political power that went with aristocratic social superiority. The inexorable rise of business and merchant middle-class capitalists in the second half of the nineteenth century appeared to reach a climax during the Edwardian era. Their entry into the Commons, assisted by the enfranchisement of the working-classes in the 1884-5 Reform Acts, had already marked a significant shift of power.
References
- ^ "Letter to Lord Willoughby de Broke". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ Dennis, Alfred L. P. (August 1912). "The Parliament Act of 1911, II". The American Political Science Review. 6 (3): 386–408. doi:10.2307/1944526. JSTOR 1944526.
- Phillips, Gregory D., The Diehards - Aristocratic Society and Politics in Edwardian England, Harvard University Press and London, England, 1979. ISBN: 0-674-20555-3