Radical Action
Radical Action was a political group within the British Liberal Party. It advocated for Liberal candidates to stand in elections despite the war-time electoral pact.
The organisation was founded in 1941 as the Liberal Action Group. It included some prominent members of the Liberal Party who disagreed with the war-time electoral pact in which the Liberals, Conservative Party and Labour Party agreed not to stand candidates against each other. Initially, its leading figures were Lancelot Spicer, Honor Balfour and Everett Jones, while Philip Fothergill became treasurer and Donald Johnson was the first chairman.[1][2]
The group supported a wide range of policies; it was more
By 1943 the group had the support of 23 Liberal
The group dissolved in 1945 after World War II ended and the electoral pact was discontinued.[2] Several former members assumed leading positions in the party; Davies became leader, Fothergill treasurer, and Lloyd George was later appointed as deputy leader.[4]
References
- ^ a b Chris Cook, A Short History of the Liberal Party: 1900 - 2001, pp.268-269
- ^ a b c d Peter Barberis, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations, p.316
- ^ Henry Pelling, Britain and the Second World War, p.185
- ^ Jorgen Scott Rasmussen, The Liberal Party: a study of retrenchment and revival, p.15