Keywords
Liberal Party, United Kingdom, Lord Northcliffe, Newspapers, New Journalism
Abstract
The decline of the Liberal Party following their 1906 triumph has prompted countless historical analyses. Despite their significant majorities, popular agenda, and divided opposition, the Liberal Party was unable to convert its support into political success. This paper suggests, through an analysis of the papers and writings of Lord Northcliffe, that the rise of New Journalism and, in particular, Lord Northcliffe’s dominance of the press, laid the foundation for the Liberal Party’s demise. Lord Northcliffe, through his monopolization of the press, offered a coherent and unified opposition to the Liberal agenda, successfully splintered the Liberal leadership, and guided the Conservative political strategy. Despite other significant factors— including the shock of World War I— Lord Northcliffe’s influence on British domestic politics played a key role in felling the Liberal Party.
Recommended Citation
Briffault, Jonathan (2023) "Lord Northcliffe and the Fall of the Liberal Party," Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal: 4 (1), 30-50. https://works.swarthmore.edu/suhj/vol4/iss1/2