David Lloyd George becomes new Prime Minister

London, 8 December 1916 - David Lloyd George has accepted His Majesty George V’s offer of the post of Prime Minister and he will form a new government in succession to Herbert Asquith who resigned last month.

The formation of the government comes after a conference at Buckingham Palace attended by the King and by A.J. Balfour, Herbert Asquith, Andrew Bonar Law, Arthur Henderson and David Lloyd George.

Initially it appeared that Andrew Bonar Law, the leader of the Conservative Party, was poised to become the new PM but in the course of the conference, he announced that he would be unable to form a government and agreed to support an administration led by Lloyd George.

Arthur Balfour, Herbert Asquith, Andrew Bonar Law and Arthur Henderson: the men present at the conference at Buckingham Palace with King George V and the new Prime Minister, David Lloyd George. (Images: Irish Life, 15 Dec 1916 & National Portrait Gallery, London)

Neither the Labour Party nor the Irish Party could have offered support to an administration led by Bonar Law. Labour, however, voted by a slim majority to take part in the new government led by Lloyd George – a result which came as something of a surprise. They are expected to take two major positions, and several minor ones, in the new cabinet.

The government will also rely on the support of the Conservative Party and, with the support of growing sections of the Liberal Party also, will have a working majority.

This ‘National Government’ will not include the Irish Parliamentary Party, who have declined formal involvement.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]