Fatherhood in British Politics: A Study of Political Fathers and Their Children in Twentieth Century Britain, 1900 - 1950

Abstract

Exploring the shift in attitude towards child rearing in twentieth century Britain, intertwined with the evolving social status of fathers, this thesis analyses the interplay between social norms, cultural values, and political identities that shaped the attitudes of Britain’s leading twentieth century politicians towards fatherhood. Nine samples of politicians and their children have been selected: Herbert Henry Asquith, Andrew Bonar Law, David Lloyd George, Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden, and Alfred Duff Cooper. By analysing how these sampled men raised and educated their offspring, their parenting styles, and studying how their political careers impacted their family life, this thesis provides a new perspective on the social and cultural context in which politicians operated and how they navigated family relationships. Examining a range of archival material, including newly accessible private papers through the lens of psychohistory, this thesis reveals the unguarded emotions of politicians in their relationship with their children and deepens understanding of their personal lives and public personas. From a late Victorian context, when men from all classes were encouraged to become more affectionate and involved in their families, fatherhood for Britain’s male political elite reflected trends in the interwar period when new theories of childhood and psychology emerged in the wider culture. Demonstrating the significance of fatherhood in the lives of this cross-party sample of Britain’s political elite, the thesis sheds light on the changing societal expectations of fathers and how those in British politics approached fatherhood amid the controversy of public life.