num_pages: 170
description: Herbert Asquith was a Liberal politician and prime minister from1908-1916. Asquith's administration laid the foundation of Britain's welfare state, but he was plunged into a major power struggle with the House of Lords. The hereditary upper chamber vetoed the budget of 1909, and in 1910 Asquith called and won two elections on this constitutional issue, and the Lords eventually passed the 1911 Parliament Act, ending their veto of financial legislation. Asquith was Prime Minister on the outbreak of World War I, but his government fell in 1916 as a result of the 'Shells Scandal'.
language: English
title: Asquith
titlecomplete: Asquith (20 British Prime Ministers of the 20th Century)
characters: H.H. Asquith
genres: Biography, Politics
ratings_count: 10
series: British Prime Ministers of the 20th Century
publisher: Haus Publishing