Asquith coalition ministry | |
---|---|
1915–1916 | |
Date formed | 25 May 1915 |
Date dissolved | 5 December 1916 |
People and organisations | |
Monarch | George V |
Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith (pictured) |
Prime Minister's history | 1908–1916 |
Total no. of members | 85 appointments |
Member parties | |
Status in legislature | Majority (coalition) |
Opposition party | Opposition Conservative Party (1915–1916) |
Opposition leader | Sir Edward Carson (1915–1916) |
History | |
Legislature terms | 30th UK Parliament |
Predecessor | Third Asquith ministry |
Successor | Lloyd George war ministry |
The Asquith coalition ministry was the Government of the United Kingdom under the Liberal prime minister H. H. Asquith from May 1915 to December 1916. It was formed as a multi-party war-time coalition nine months after the beginning of the First World War[a] but collapsed when the Conservative Party withdrew.
The new Cabinet included nine Conservatives and one Labour minister, but the Liberals continued to hold most of the important posts;[R. 2003] the Conservatives had demanded Cabinet seats, but they only received lesser positions. Not at all satisfied, Conservative Party leader Bonar Law continued the verbal attacks.
The ministry collapsed on 5 December 1916 as a result of Conservative resignations, who refused to serve under Asquith's leadership. Asquith and most of the Liberals then moved into opposition, while the Conservatives formed a new coalition with a minority of Liberals, under the leadership of Liberal David Lloyd George, the next day.
Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(head of ministry) | 5 April 1908 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
Chancellor of the Exchequer | 27 May 1915 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
Lord Chancellor | 25 May 1915 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
25 May 1915 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | |||
Lord Privy Seal | 25 May 1915 | December 1916 | Conservative | ||
Secretary of State for the Home Department | 27 May 1915 | 12 January 1916 | Liberal | ||
12 January 1916 | 7 December 1916 | Liberal | |||
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | 10 December 1905 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
Secretary of State for the Colonies | 25 May 1915 | 10 December 1916 | Conservative | ||
Secretary of State for War | 5 August 1914 | 5 June 1916 | Independent | ||
6 July 1916 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | |||
Secretary of State for India | 25 May 1915 | 17 July 1917 | Conservative | ||
First Lord of the Admiralty | 25 May 1915 | 10 December 1916 | Conservative | ||
President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries | 25 May 1915 | 11 July 1916 | Conservative | ||
11 July 1916 | 5 December 1916 | Conservative | |||
Minister of Blockade | 23 February 1916 | 18 July 1918 | Conservative | ||
President of the Board of Education | 25 May 1915 | 18 August 1916 | Labour | ||
The Marquess of Crewe | 18 August 1916 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
President of the Local Government Board | May 1915 | December 1916 | Conservative | ||
Chief Secretary for Ireland | 23 January 1907 | 3 May 1916 | Liberal | ||
31 July 1916 | 5 May 1918 | Conservative | |||
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | 25 May 1915 | 25 November 1915 | Liberal | ||
Herbert Samuel | 25 November 1915 | 11 January 1916 | Liberal | ||
11 January 1916 | 9 July 1916 | Liberal | |||
9 July 1916 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | |||
Minister of Munitions | David Lloyd George | 25 May 1915 | 9 July 1916 | Liberal | |
Edwin Samuel Montagu | 9 July 1916 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
Paymaster General | Arthur Henderson | 18 August 1916 | 10 December 1916 | Labour | |
Minister without Portfolio | 25 May 1915 | December 1916 | Conservative | ||
Postmaster General | Herbert Samuel | 26 May 1915 | 18 January 1916 | Liberal | |
18 January 1916 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | |||
Secretary for Scotland | Thomas McKinnon Wood | 13 February 1912 | 9 July 1916 | Liberal | |
9 July 1916 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | |||
President of the Board of Trade | 5 August 1914 | 5 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
First Commissioner of Works | 25 May 1915 | 10 December 1916 | Liberal | ||
Attorney General | 25 May 1915 | 19 October 1915 | Irish Unionist | ||
3 November 1915 | 10 January 1919 | Conservative |