Book dossier

Liberalism and the social problem

by Winston S. Churchill

"In 1904 Winston S. Churchill crossed the parliamentary floor and became a member of the Liberal Party. When the Liberals took office, Churchill became the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, becoming a most prominent member of the Government, and in 1908 was promoted to the Cabinet. The speeches in this collection deal with the key issues of the day, including the adoption of constitutions for the defeated Boer republics of Transvaal and the Orange River Colony and the 'People's Budget,' which taxed the wealthy to fund social welfare programmes. In fact the proposed budget led to the dissolution of Parliament less than a week after publication, following its rejection by the Conservative-dominated House of Lords. The radicalism of the young Churchill, often overshadowed by his leadership during the Second World War, is indisputable in these speeches; he challenged the privileges of the House of Lords, championed welfare legislation and campaigned for Home Rule in Ireland. This collection offers an intriguing insight into the early political thinking and development of one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century."--Bloomsbury Publishing.