New Liberalism

   The term applied to the set of beliefs of a group of reforming Liberals in the early twentieth century. New Liberals were conscious of the gulf that existed within society, arguing that the uneven distribution of wealth was wrong in itself and actually harmed the economy because it deprived the mass of the population of the capacity to buy goods. They reinterpreted traditional liberalism and called for increased legislative action. They were still concerned to maintain individual liberty, promote individual enterprise and attack monopoly and privilege, but they were beginning to see a greater role for the state in protecting the weak. Churchill, Lloyd George and other supporters of New Liberalism did not believe in the removal of the capitalist system, but wanted to transform the system of private ownership to make it work to the advantage of a larger section of the community.