February 10, 2015

A marriage to last a lifetime

Large, enthusiastic crowds cheered the wedding party at St. Margaret’s, Westminster on 12 September. After a honeymoon trip to Austria and Italy, the couple took up residence in Churchill’s house on Bolton Street. WSC felt confined as President of the Board of Trade: “There is nothing in this pie for me. Lloyd George has taken all the plums.” But the two quickly fashioned a remarkable program of social reform: legislation on sweated labor, a system of labor exchanges, old-age pensions and unemployment insurance. Not dogmatic for either state or private participation in economic and social affairs, Churchill believed a union of the resources of the state and the personal energies of the people would alleviate the worst sources of poverty and ignorance.

Winston and Lloyd George, who were rapidly becoming known as the House of Commons’ “terrible twins,” fretted about the House of Lords. When the Lords killed a Liquor Licensing Bill Winston roared,” . . . we shall send them up a budget in June as shall terrify them. They have started a class war, they had better be careful.”

WSC reported his income for the year as £3091 (£2466 from Lord Randolph Churchill, £2000 from articles and My African Journey, £800 expenses and £225 from a reprint of Savrola).

On the day of his wedding, Churchill had been honored with the distinction of appearing as a waxwork effigy at Madame Tussaud’s. It was the first of a total of seven effigies throughout his life.

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