On 24 January 1910, the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time, Mr. David Lloyd George, paid a visit to Somercotes. A large marquee was erected in the Market Place, which held some of the 5,000 people who were expected to attend (apparently a showman who rented the area at the time had to vacate and move his machinery before the marquee could be erected).
A report of the Chancellor’s movements was published in the Gloucestershire Echo, on Saturday 22 January 1910 – “THE CHANCELLOR’S ARRANGEMENTS – The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs Lloyd George on Saturday toured Carnarvon Boroughs in a motor-car. In conversation with a special representative of the Press Association, the right hon. gentleman stated that immediately after the declaration of the poll on Monday he will leave Carnarvon by special train for Summercoates, near Chesterfield, where, in the evening, he will address a mass meeting. He will speak at Stourbridge the next day. Notwithstanding his trying and exhausting labours, Mr Lloyd George appears to be in the best of spirits.”
PHOTO: Photograph of David Lloyd George
The visit and the speech were reported in the Alfreton Advertiser on 27 January 1910. The first part of the article has been transcribed as follows: “Mr Lloyd George at Somercotes - In spite of extremely unfavourable weather, electors of Mid-Derbyshire foregathered in their thousands on Monday night (Jan 24) at Somercotes, where Mr Lloyd George addressed them in a large marquee. The tensest enthusiasm prevailed, notwithstanding the discomfort caused by the stream of water that leaked through the top of the tent in places. Mr George Smith, of Belper, presided. Sir Thomas Roe, MP, delivered a speech while the audience was waiting for Mr Lloyd George.
Mr Lloyd George said: “I am not sure that I can make myself heard in this vast assembly, as my voice has become rather rusty after the weeks of very excellent use to which I have been putting it. I will tell you one thing I discovered, the moment I arrived here, that you did not need in Derbyshire any importation of enthusiasm from Wales or anywhere else. The coal of Liberalism in Derbyshire burns as brightly as good old Welsh coal…”
The report continues for several pages and the full version is available on www.parliament.uk and titled “Report of election Speech at Somercotes, Derbyshire” (Parliamentary Archives LG/C/341/32)
It details fully the speech made at Somercotes by David Lloyd George on 24 January 1910, when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. The speech was made in support of Liberal Party candidates during the election campaign which ended on 10 February 1910.