A history lesson for Chuka Umunna on the Liberals as the Party of Business
Chuka Umunna who is currently a Liberal Democrat MP, his third party this year, has told the CBI that the LibDems: “In our words and deeds we are now the only main party that is pro-business, enterprise and entrepreneurship.”
The full report is here:
Mr Ummuna has only recently joined the Liberal Democrats and so one presumes is entirely unaware of his Party’s history.
The Liberals won a landslide Election victory in 1906 and Chris Cook (Short History of the Liberal Party 1900-1997) has noted the character of the 377 Liberal MPs elected:
‘barristers 64; service officers 22; ‘gentlemen’ 69; established businessmen 80; self-made businessmen 74 ; solicitors 21; writers and journalists 25. There were also 8 trade unionists’.
Of course in recent times the Liberal Democrats have attracted only marginal support from business figures but that is not their history.
My thanks to Professor David Edgerton for reminding of the very strong business background of the Liberals
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