Constitutionalist (UK)
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Constitutionalist was a label used by some British politicians standing for Parliament in the 1920s, instead of the more traditional party labels. The label was used primarily by former supporters of the
David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. A Liberal Party (United Kingdom), Liberal Party politician from Wales, he was known for leadi ...
-led
coalition government A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a government by political parties that enter into a power-sharing arrangement of the executive. Coalition governments usually occur when no single party has achieved an absolute majority after an ...
, and most notably by
Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...
. However, there was no party organisation called the Constitutionalist Party.


Origins

In 1922, when the Unionist Party voted to end the coalition government with the National Liberal Party, there were still members of both parties who preferred to continue working together. At the 1922 general election, in a number of constituencies local Unionist Associations decided to continue supporting National Liberal candidates and vice versa. However, by the 1923 general election, the National Liberals had formally rejoined the Liberal Party. In some constituencies there was still some electoral co-operation between Unionists and Liberals. In
Dartford Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located south-east of Central London and is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames Estuary, is Thurrock in ...
a former National Liberal member of Parliament, George Jarrett, chose not to join the Liberal party and sought re-election as a 'Constitutionalist'.Craig, F. W. S., ''British parliamentary election results 1918–1949'' He was supported by the local Unionist Association.


Meaning of Constitutionalist

The term had nothing to do with
Constitutionalism Constitutionalism is "a compound of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law". Political organizations are constitutional to ...
in the philosophical sense. The term was meant to signify that the adherents believed in the principles of British constitutional government through electoral politics. It was used to highlight their belief that Labour, as a socialist party, did not fully support the existing British constitution. In January 1924 the first Labour government had taken office amongst fears of threats to the constitution.


Winston Churchill

The former National Liberal cabinet minister
Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...
was an adherent to this view of constitutionalism. He was noted at the time for being particularly hostile to socialism. In March 1924 Churchill sought election at the 1924 Westminster Abbey by-election. He had originally sought the backing of the local Unionist association, which happened to be called the Westminster Abbey Constitutional Association, and adopted the term 'Constitutionalist' to describe himself during the by-election campaign. After the by-election Churchill continued to use the term and talked about setting up a Constitutionalist Party.


1924 general election

Any plans that Churchill may have had to create a Constitutionalist Party were shelved with the calling of another general election. While there were a number of Liberals and Unionists who sought electoral co-operation, as in 1923, there were twelve who decided to use the label Constitutionalist rather than Liberal or Unionist.Cook, Chris (1975). ''Sources in British Political History, 1900–1951'' (Volume 1). Macmillan. p. 73. These included Churchill but not Jarrett who had been the first to use the term in 1923. Of those who used the label Constitutionalist, three former National Liberal members of Parliament were opposed by official Liberals, while six sitting Liberal members were only opposed by Labour candidates and three other candidates were only opposed by Labour.


1924–1929 parliament

After the election, the seven Constitutionalist candidates who were elected did not act or vote together as a group. The four previously sitting as Liberals who had held their seats all re-took the Liberal whip, while Churchill, Greenwood, and Moreing took the Unionist whip. Churchill accepted the post of
Chancellor of the Exchequer The chancellor of the exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and the head of HM Treasury, His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, t ...
in
Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (3 August 186714 December 1947), was a British statesman and Conservative politician who was prominent in the political leadership of the United Kingdom between the world wars. He was prime ministe ...
's Unionist government. The description 'Constitutionalist' dropped out of use.


References

{{reflist Liberal Party (UK) Defunct political parties in the United Kingdom Defunct liberal political parties Political parties established in 1923 Political parties disestablished in 1924 1923 establishments in the United Kingdom 1924 disestablishments in the United Kingdom