Welcome to the web site of the Lloyd George Society

The Lloyd George Society is a loose combination of like minds that meets in Wales for a weekend school on topical subjects, historical issues (particularly those relating to David Lloyd George) or interesting questions affecting Welsh life and culture, all from a liberal perspective. The Society usually meets once a year in February, avoiding the dates of rugby football internationals.

The schools have been taking place for over 50 years. Originally designed for Welsh Liberal parliamentary candidates to debate policy and topical questions, to help them prepare for the election trail, the schools have developed away from this specific purpose and now provide an informal forum for participants to hear interesting talks, take part in discussions and meet friends, old and new.

The schools have always tried to attract speakers expert in their field to provide plenty of food for thought and a leavening of controversy but the schools are best enjoyed for their good fellowship with many members who have attended regularly for decades.

Despite the origins of the Society, we are not formally affiliated to the Liberal Democrats. We welcome supporters and speakers at the weekend school who belong to other political parties or anyone who has an interest in Wales, history or current affairs. Obviously however, our liberal history strongly informs the range of topics on the school's agenda. In addition our Vice Presidents are Liberal Democrat parliamentarians.

Hidden portrait of Lloyd George revealed Tue 30th Sep 2008 A portrait of David Lloyd George, which has rarely been on view since it was painted in 1936, has been put on display at the Lloyd George Museum at Llanystumdwy. The painting is by Welsh artist Vincent Evans from Swansea who worked as a coal miner before becoming famous as an artist.

Bridget Fox on Lloyd George, Pensions and contemporary politics Sun 28th Sep 2008 Bridget Fox is the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Islington South & Finsbury where she has a real chance of unseating Labour MP Emily Thornberry at the next election. In 2005 Thornberry's majority was just 484 votes, with the Tories out of contention on less than 15% of the poll.

Friends of the Lloyd George Museum/Cyfeillion Amgueddfa Lloyd George - Rhaglen 2008-2009 Programme Sat 20th Sep 2008 The Friends of the Lloyd George Museum exist to promote the interests of the Lloyd George museum in Llanystumdwy by:

More about the Pensions Act as An Post about to unveil their new stamp Tue 16th Sep 2008 An article by Ronan O'Brien in today's Irish Times gives some more background to the introduction of the 1908 Pensions Act by the Liberal government of H H Asquith. However O'Brien rightly makes the point that many politicians of different parties supported the idea of the state pension and gives credit to the former Liberal turned Unionist Joseph Chamberlain as the first front-line politician to come out in favour of it in the 1890s. Old age pensions figured prominently in the electoral addresses of Unionist, rather than Liberal, candidates in the 1895 election, which saw the Unionists returned to power. The Conservatives did not however find the time or resources to introduce the measure between 1895 and 1905 and it fell to the Liberals to bring in the 1908 Act.

Cabinet meets outside London - Lloyd George connection Thu 11th Sep 2008 When Gordon Brown's Cabinet met in Birmingham on 8 September it was widely reported that this was for the first time since 1921, when Lloyd George was still prime minister. A report in Tuesday's Times newspaper has thrown doubt on that claim but contains some interesting background to the 1921 meeting in Inverness, called as Anglo-Irish relations were at an unusually delicate stage.

Ireland to issue Pensions postage stamp Fri 29th Aug 2008 The Press Association has today reported that the Postal Service in the Republic of Ireland, An Post, is to issue a commemorative stamp in September to mark the 100th anniversary of the old age pension.

Lloyd George earldom - new light thrown by recent article Mon 18th Aug 2008 Historians and followers of Lloyd George's career alike have often wondered what provoked the Welsh Wizard to accept a peerage towards the end of his life, a life in which LG had often battled against the House of Lords. In the 1930s, LG had criticised public figures like Ernest Bevin who was tipped for a peerage and he extolled the great radicals of the past such as Gladstone, Bright, Cobden and Joseph Chamberlain who all refused to take seats in the House of Lords. It was certainly against the wishes of his daughter Megan and other members of the LG family. A common explanation has been that his new wife, Frances Stevenson, wished to become a Countess but no documents supporting this theory have ever come to light.

Lloyd George statue donated to Llanystumdwy museum Thu 14th Aug 2008 A small replica of the statue of David Lloyd George which was unveiled in Parliament Square, Westminster last year has been donated to the Lloyd George Museum in his home village of Llanystumdwy and as from 12 August 2008 will be on permanent display there.

Lloyd George book is Number 1 with MPs Mon 11th Aug 2008 A report in today's Scotsman newspaper reveals that Ffion Hague's biography of Lloyd George and the women in his life, "The Pain and the Privilege" has been voted joint top summer reading in a poll of 150 Members of Parliament carried out by the booksellers, Waterstones.

Ffion Hague's 'The Pain and the Privilege' - book signing details Wed 6th Aug 2008 Ffion Hague will be signing copies of her book 'Lloyd George - The Pain & The Privilege' at "The Bookshop" 33 High St. Mold, Flintshire. Saturday 13th September 2008 @ 11.30 a.m.

Archive of earlier news stories.