''The Westminster Gazette'' was an influential Liberal

newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, spor ...

based in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. It was known for publishing sketches and short stories, including early works by

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, and Saki, and travel writing by

Rupert Brooke Rupert Chawner Brooke (3 August 1887 – 23 April 1915)The date of Brooke's death and burial under the Julian calendar that applied in Greece at the time was 10 April. The Julian calendar was 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. was an En ...

. One of its editors was caricaturist and political cartoonist

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. The paper was dubbed the " pea-green incorruptible" – Prime Minister

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having personally approved its green colour. Launched with the help of Liberal publisher

George Newnes Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet (13 March 1851 – 9 June 1910) was a British publisher and editor and a founding figure in popular journalism. Newnes also served as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament for two decades. His company, George Newne ...

, the paper was started by E. T. Cook on 31 January 1893, employing the core of the old political staff from ''

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'' including Hulda Friederichs. The paper established itself in the front rank of Liberal publications, earning the admiration of the Liberal prime minister Lord Rosebery. Cook served as editor until 1896, when he resigned his position to take over as editor of the Liberal '' The Daily News''. Though a number of prominent individuals applied to succeed him, George Newnes decided to offer the editorship to J. A. Spender, then only 33 years of age. Though Spender himself was modest about his prospects, his selection was met with approval by many in the Liberal ranks, including the head of the party Lord Rosebery. When launched, it was printed on green paper (which it retained throughout its time as an evening publication), intended to make it easier to read by homegoing workers under artificial light on a train or omnibus. The veteran editor Frederick Greenwood regarded ''The Westminster Gazette'' under Spender as "the best-edited paper in London," and it became essential reading for politicians on both sides of the political aisle. The paper's priority was Liberal unity. It balanced ideological expression, avoiding the polemical heights attained by other Liberal publications. Though this occasionally earned Spender the ire of both Liberal factions in a debate, his loyalty to the Liberal leadership was rewarded with their confidences, which provided him with invaluable insight into the inner workings of contemporary politics.Morris 2004, p. 901. Spender greatly valued his editorial independence, which was never an issue with ''The Gazette''s owner, George Newnes. When Newnes sold the paper in 1908 to a consortium of Liberal businessmen and politicians led by

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, however, Spender found his cherished independence under pressure. Only internal disagreement within the ownership group saved Spender from dismissal. The dispute hurt staff morale, while the start of the

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led several important staff members to leave for service in the armed forces. A growing decline in circulation and revenue led Spender and the owners, including the leading shareholder at the time

Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray Weetman Dickinson Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray, (15 July 1856 – 1 May 1927), known as Sir Weetman Pearson, Bt between 1894 and 1910, and as Lord Cowdray between 1910 and 1917, was a British engineer, oil industrialist, benefactor and Lib ...

, to undertake the radical move of switching from an evening to a morning publication in November 1921.The new paper, however, was no longer a vehicle for the sort of reflective journalism characteristic of Spender, and he resigned from his position in February 1922. The revamped newspaper gained circulation but continued to make significant financial losses. It was merged into the Liberal '' Daily News'' on 1 February 1928.

Editors

* 1893:

Edward Tyas Cook Sir Edward Tyas Cook (12 May 1857 – 30 September 1919) was an English journalist, biographer, and man of letters. Biography Born in Brighton, Cook was the youngest son of Silas Kemball Cook, secretary of the Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich, a ...

* 1896: J. A. Spender * 1921: J. B. Hobman

Sources

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westminster Gazette Defunct newspapers published in the United Kingdom Publications established in 1893 London newspapers Publications disestablished in 1928 1893 establishments in the United Kingdom Liberal Party (UK) publications