The usual answer—Lloyd George—is not correct, as Alistair Lexden explained in a letter published in The Daily Telegraph on 23 February.
SIR -- Charles Moore (Notebook, February 21) is mistaken in stating that Lloyd George invented old age pensions in 1909 .
Herbert Asquith, as chancellor of the exchequer, devised them in 1907, and, after becoming prime minister the following year, presented the budget that introduced them. Lloyd George, as the new chancellor, attended to the details and stole the credit. Lord Rosebery, a former Liberal prime minister, was filled with foreboding, believing that the scheme would be “so prodigal of expenditure as likely to undermine the whole fabric of the Empire.”
Lord Lexden
London SW1
