DAVID LLOYD GEORGE EXHIBITION 1863-1945 March 1995

Department of Pictures and Maps

Exhibition

FIRST STEPS TO THE WELFARE STATE

After the Budget of 1909 David Lloyd George did not rest and in 1911 he brought his National Insurance Bill before the House. It was a measure intended to establish compulsory health and unemployment insurance schemes. It attracted much opposition from those with vested interests, from some on the left, and especially from the right. One aspect of the protest was an anti-stamp licking campaign which reached its climax with a Mistresses and Maids rally at the Albert Hall. After shouting "We won't pay!" and "Taffy is a Welshman, Taffy is a thief!", the rally culminated in a speech by Lady Desart where she attacked Lloyd George violently and finished with her rallying cry, "England ... never did nor never shall lie at the proud foot of a conqueror." The measure was passed and became law and was implemented in the following years.

© National Library of Wales
Unidentified photographer, "Addressing 40,000 miners at Sutton Ashfield."
(PG2349 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 1009 p.5r)

© National Library of Wales
Unidentified photographer, Old age pensioners at Morriston greeting David Lloyd George.
(PZ4257 Llyfr Ffoto LLGC : NLW Photograph Album 254 p.7)

© National Library of Wales
Unidentified, "The stamp that wants a lot of licking... and the man."
(PZ617/12 Post Card Collection)

Unidentified, "This stamp will take a bit of licking."
(PZ6177/12 Post Card Collection)

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