DAVID LLOYD GEORGE EXHIBITION 1863-1945 March 1995

Department of Pictures and Maps

Exhibition

THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET

David Lloyd George's first task as Chancellor was to bring to the house Asquith's Pensions Bill in 1908, but it was Lloyd George's name that would be associated with it in the public mind. In the Budget of 1909, "The People's Budget", we see his own mind and values at work. So controversial were some of the measures that the civil servants of the Exchequer refused to cooperate with him.
As he delivered his speech he said that it was a war budget designed to raise money to fight against poverty and squalor. The money would be raised by taxes that would affect the rich upper class more than any: this led to other battles, the battle to pass the Budget and the battle to reform the House of Lords. It took seventy two parliamentary days to discuss the measure in the Commons, there were 554 divisions and the Summer Recess was done away with. In the end it was rejected by the Lords which led to an immediate general election, after which the Budget of 1909 was passed in April 1910.

National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations,
"Putting the screw on John Bull."
(PZ6177/2 Post Card Collection)
© National Library of Wales

National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations,
"The stepping stones."
(PZ6177/9 Casgliad Cardiau Post)
© National Library of Wales

National Series, "The Lords throwing out the Budget."
(PZ6177/8 Post Card Collection)
© National Library of Wales

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