Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party
Encyclopedia
The Southern Rhodesian Liberal Party was a political party in Southern Rhodesia
, founded in 1939 by Jacob Smit (1881–1959), the former United Party
(UP) minister of finance. It is thought that Smit split from the UP largely because Prime Minister
Sir Godfrey Martin Huggins had failed to include him in the exclusive Second World War
Defence Committee.
In his A History of Rhodesia, Robert Blake
writes that Smit's party, "in accordance with the Rhodesian tradition of adopting the most misleading political nomenclature possible, called themselves 'Liberals.'" The party was, in fact, pronouncedly illiberal, and attempted to unite conservative, non-trade union opposition to the UP while opposing government economic regulation and the advancement of black political interests. The Liberal Party did well in the 1946 election, winning 12 out of 30 seats in the Southern Rhodesia
Legislative Assembly, but in 1948 it won only five seats and its support declined subsequently. It was to become one of the political precursors to the later Rhodesian Front
(RF) party.
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, founded in 1939 by Jacob Smit (1881–1959), the former United Party
United Federal Party
The United Federal Party, previously known as the United Party and the United Rhodesia Party, was one of Southern Rhodesia's most successful political parties, and governed the country for over 30 years...
(UP) minister of finance. It is thought that Smit split from the UP largely because Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Rhodesia
The Prime Minister of Rhodesia was the head of government in the colony of Rhodesia. Rhodesia's political system was modelled on the Westminster system and the Prime Minister's role was similar to that of the same position in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New...
Sir Godfrey Martin Huggins had failed to include him in the exclusive Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Defence Committee.
In his A History of Rhodesia, Robert Blake
Robert Blake, Baron Blake
Robert Norman William Blake, Baron Blake was an English historian. He is best known for his 1966 biography of Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, and for The Conservative Party from Peel to Churchill, which grew out of his 1968 Ford lectures...
writes that Smit's party, "in accordance with the Rhodesian tradition of adopting the most misleading political nomenclature possible, called themselves 'Liberals.'" The party was, in fact, pronouncedly illiberal, and attempted to unite conservative, non-trade union opposition to the UP while opposing government economic regulation and the advancement of black political interests. The Liberal Party did well in the 1946 election, winning 12 out of 30 seats in the Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
Legislative Assembly, but in 1948 it won only five seats and its support declined subsequently. It was to become one of the political precursors to the later Rhodesian Front
Rhodesian Front
The Rhodesian Front was a political party in Southern Rhodesia when the country was under white minority rule. Led first by Winston Field, and, from 1964, by Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Front was the successor to the Dominion Party, which was the main opposition party in Southern Rhodesia during the...
(RF) party.