Tariff Reform League

The Tariff Reform League (TRL) was a pressure group formed in 1903 to protest against 'unfair' foreign imports and to advocate Imperial Preference to protect British industry from foreign competition. The absolute leader in terms of being located near or beyond the technological frontier Britain had long held the competitive advantage but moves to foster more free trade were later withdrawn as countries such as the USA and Germany in particular began to threaten the manufacturing advantage of Britain. It was well funded and included politicians, intellectuals and businessmen, and was popular with the grassroots of the Conservative Party. By 1914 it had approximately 250,000 members. It is associated with the national campaign of Joseph Chamberlain, the most outspoken and charismatic supporter of Tariff Reform.

The League wanted to see the British Empire transformed into a single trading bloc, to compete with Germany and the United States. It favoured imposing duties on imports—as did Germany and the US—and the channelling of the money raised from these duties into social reforms. High import duties, the League claimed, would make increasing other taxes unnecessary. However opponents claimed that protection would mean dearer food, especially bread.

Sir Cyril Arthur Pearson was its Chairman and, with Sir Harry Brittain, a founding member. Sir Henry Page Croft was Chairman of its Organisation Committee. Pearson was later succeeded as Chairman of the League by Viscount Ridley.

Tariff Reform split the MPs of the Conservative Party and was the major factor in its landslide defeat in 1906 to the Liberals who advocated Free Trade. The Conservative Party under Bonar Law dropped Tariff Reform as official policy.

Shortly after the First World War the TRL was disbanded, although other organisations promoting the same cause were still active in the 1920s. One such organisation was the Fair Trade Union created by Joseph Chamberlain's son, Neville, and the Conservative MP Leo Amery. The British Commonwealth Union, led by Patrick Hannon, was another. Tariff Reform became official Conservative policy under Stanley Baldwin and was the major issue in the 1923 general election. The party lost its majority in the election and Tariff Reform was again dropped until the 1930s.

The Unionist Free Food League, formed under the chairmanship of Sir Michael Hicks Beach in July 1903, was a reaction to the Tariff Reform League.

• A Tariff Reform League lapel pin