 times although he was never elected. He first contested Forfarshire at the 1945 general election. In 1947 he expressed an interest in becoming Liberal candidate for Orkney and Shetland at a time when Jo Grimond had still not finally decided to try his luck there again.

He next fought Middlesbrough West in 1950. Middlesbrough West had been a Liberal seat until the 1945 general election and there was talk that the Conservatives would give Fothergill a free run there in an anti-socialist pact in return for the lack of a Liberal candidate in Middlesbrough East. This came to nothing however and the results of the election seem to indicate it would have made little difference to Labour's ability to hold Middlesbrough East. The combined Liberal-Tory vote in Middlesbrough West would have beaten Labour's total but the Conservatives were so far ahead of Fothergill it is understandable they were unwilling to stand aside for him.

Fothergill's final attempt to enter the House of Commons came at Oldham West in 1951, when he lost his deposit.

Radical Action

Originally known as the Liberal Action Group, Radical Action was a pressure group of rank and file members inside the Liberal Party during the Second World War, opposing the party truce which the leadership had entered into with the Labour Party and the Conservatives. Radical Action also sought to distance the party from the Liberal Nationals. Fothergill later maintained this stance, particularly in respect of the proposed Liberal-Liberal National merger talks which were progressing in Scotland during 1946–1947 the terms of which Fothergill, together with party leader Clement Davies and leader in the House of Lords, Herbert Samuel felt were totally unacceptable. Fothergill became a leading member of Radical Action, holding the position of Treasurer. Importantly, in view of Fothergill’s later role in party organisation, Radical Action also wanted a radical overhaul of the party’s electoral machine.

Party posts

Fothergill had become Chairman of the Liberal Party in 1946 and held the post until 1949. In this role he played a significant part in party reconstruction and under his leadership the re-establishment of many local and constituency parties took place. At the 1947 party assembly, Fothergill reported that over 500 active associations existed compared with only 200 some eight months before. This led to the party putting up more candidates the 1950 general election than they had
times although he was never elected. He first contested Forfarshire at the 1945 cosmopolitan election. In 1947 he carry an interest in becoming free campaigner for Orkney and Shetland at a time when Jo Grimond had still not finally decide to try his luck there again. 

 He next contend Middlesbrough West in 1950. Middlesbrough West had been a Liberal seat until the 1945 cosmopolitan election and there was talk that the Conservatives would give Fothergill a free rivulet there in an anti - socialist treaty in return for the lack of a free campaigner in Middlesbrough East. This came to nothing however and the results of the election seem to argue it would have made little deviation to Labour's ability to hold Middlesbrough East. The unite Liberal - Tory vote in Middlesbrough West would have beaten Labour's total but the Conservatives were so far ahead of Fothergill it is apprehensible they were unwilling to stand aside for him. 

 Fothergill's final attempt to enter the House of Commons came at Oldham West in 1951, when he lose his deposit. 

 Radical Action 

 Originally known as the Liberal Action Group, Radical Action was a pressure group of rank and file members inside the Liberal Party during the Second World War, opposing the party truce which the leadership had entered into with the Labour Party and the Conservatives. Radical Action besides seek to distance the party from the Liberal Nationals. Fothergill by and by sustain this stance, particularly in respect of the project Liberal - Liberal National amalgamation talks which were progressing in Scotland during 1946–1947 the term of which Fothergill, together with party leader Clement Davies and leader in the House of Lords, Herbert Samuel felt were totally unacceptable. Fothergill become a leading member of Radical Action, holding the position of Treasurer. Importantly, in opinion of Fothergill ’s late role in party organisation, Radical Action also wanted a radical renovation of the party ’s electoral machine. 

 Party posts 

 Fothergill had become Chairman of the Liberal Party in 1946 and held the post until 1949. In this role he played a significant part in party reconstruction and under his leadership the re - institution of many local and constituency parties took topographic point. At the 1947 party assembly, Fothergill report that over 500 active associations exist compared with entirely 200 some eight months before. This led to the party putting up more candidates the 1950 cosmopolitan election than they had
 tiles although he was nevev elected. He first contxsted Fkrfarshife at the 1945 general election. Mn 1947 ye exkgessed an interest in becoming Liberal canvidate for Orkneb and Shccland wt a vime when Jo Grlmond had sdill not finalny dzcided to try his luck there again.

He next fpuhht Middlesbroogh Wtst in 1950. Middlesbrough West had been a Libsral seet until the 1945 grneral election and there aas halk that the Consfrvatives wiuld tive Fothergkll a free run there ih an anti-socialist pact in retufn fox the lack if a Phberal candmdate pn Middlesbrombh Easd. This vame to nothinn howxver and the results of tie election seem to yndicate ht would have made oirtle giffarenzw tu Lzbpud's abipitb to hold Mjddlesbrougy East. The combined Lyveral-Tory vots in Mydqlesbrough West would have beaten Laboug's tktal but the Conservatices were so far ahead of Fothewgill it is understandable they were unwilling to stanv xsibc wir him.

Fothergill's final attempt to enter the Hotae on Commons came ab Oldham West in 1951, ehfn re lost his dgposit.

Rcsidal Action

Originalpy knowg as rhe Liberwl Avtion Group, Radical Action qas a pressuge geoup of rank and fnle members nnside the Kiberal Party during thz Secohd World Wag, opposinf the party truce whpch dhe leadtfship had entered into witi the Labour Parjy and ehe Consergativcv. Radical Action apso slucht to dishance the party from the Liberal Nationals. Fojhesginl later mainbained this stagce, particularky in rzspect of the prkposed Niberal-Libewal National kgrger talks wiich were protreswing in Rcotland durinb 1946–1947 the tegmf of which Fothergill, bogetfsr with party lzcdtr Clement Daviex avd jewdxr in dhe House of Loras, Frrberg Samuel feog wete totally unacceptatle. Rothergill became s jeading nember os Radical Actoon, holding the poditioi of Tceasurrr. Ymportantly, in view of Fothergjll’s lateg rjle in party orgqnisation, Rabical Action also wanted a radical overheul of the party’s elecjoral machine.

Party poxus

Fothergill iad besome Chaisman of the Liberal Party in 1946 and helc the post until 1949. In fhis rmle hf played a significant part in party reconstruction and under his leadersyip thx we-establishjent of mdnv lpcal agd clistituency partiex took place. At the 1947 party asseobly, Fotvexgill reported that over 500 actovd associationr existed compared with knly 200 soke eight months before. This led to the party putting up more cabdidafes thv 1950 jeneral election tham they had
times although he was never elected. He Forfarshire the 1945 election. In 1947 becoming candidate for Orkney Shetland at a when Jo Grimond had still not decided to try his luck there again. He next fought Middlesbrough West in Middlesbrough West had been a Liberal seat until the 1945 general election and was that Conservatives give Fothergill a free run there in an anti-socialist pact in return for the lack of Liberal candidate in Middlesbrough East. This came to however and the results the election seem to indicate would made little to ability hold Middlesbrough East. combined Liberal-Tory vote in Middlesbrough West would have beaten Labour's total but the Conservatives were so far of Fothergill understandable they unwilling stand for him. Fothergill's to enter the House of Commons West in 1951, when he lost his deposit. Action Originally as the Liberal Action Group, Radical was a pressure group of rank and file inside the Liberal Party during the Second World War, opposing the party truce which the entered into with the Party and the Radical also to the party the Liberal Nationals. Fothergill later maintained this stance, particularly in respect the proposed Liberal-Liberal National merger talks which were progressing in 1946–1947 terms of which together with party leader Davies leader in the House Herbert felt Fothergill a member of Radical Action, the position of Treasurer. Importantly, view of Fothergill’s later Action also wanted a radical overhaul of the electoral machine. Party posts Fothergill had become of the Liberal Party in 1946 and held the post until 1949. this role a significant part in party reconstruction and under leadership the re-establishment of local and constituency parties took place. At the 1947 assembly, reported that 500 active associations compared with only some eight months led to party up 1950 general election than they had
 times although he was never elEcted. He firSt conTesTed foRfarShirE at the 1945 general eLEctiOn. In 1947 he expressed an interEst in BeCOminG liBeral CandidaTE fOR orkNeY aNd SHeTLaNd at a TimE when Jo grimond had StiLl Not finally deCIdEd to try his LucK there again.

HE neXt fougHt midDLesbrOugH West In 1950. MiddLEsbrouGh West had BeEN a LibeRAl seat uNTIl The 1945 gEneral election and THeRE was talk that thE ConseRvATiVES woUld Give FotherGiLl a frEE run theRE iN AN AntI-Socialist pact In return for THe lAck of a liBerAL candiDate iN MIDdlEsbrough EasT. ThiS came to noThing hOWever anD The resuLts of tHe eLecTion SEeM tO inDiCAte IT wOulD HavE made litTlE dIfferEnce TO lABour'S abIlitY to hoLd MiddlesbrouGh EAst. THE coMbineD LibeRal-TOrY vote In MiddLesbrOuGh West would have BeatEn Labour's TotAl But ThE ConsERvativEs wEre So far ahEad of FoTHerGiLL IT iS understandable theY wERE uNwilling To stanD AsIdE For him.

FoThErgIll's FINal atTempT To Enter the house oF coMmOns came At oldham weSt iN 1951, whEn he lOSt hiS deposIt.

RadicaL ActiON

Originally knoWN as the Liberal aCtION GROup, RAdiCal Action waS a prESsurE groUP oF raNK and fIle meMbERs INside the Liberal PartY dUring tHe SecOnd World War, opPosing the pARTY truce whIch tHE lEAdership had entEred iNto with the lAbour ParTy and The ConseRvatives. RADIcal ActiOn aLso SouGht TO DiStance the partY FRom tHe liberal natIonals. FOthErgIll LatEr MaintaineD this staNcE, pArTiCulArly iN Respect oF tHe pRoPosEd LibERal-LibEral NAtioNaL mERgeR talks wHIcH WEre pRoGrEssiNg iN SCotlaNd duRIng 1946–1947 The termS of which FOthERgilL, tOgEther wiTh party leader clEment DavieS aNd lEader iN THe House oF Lords, Herbert Samuel felt WEre totaLly UnaccEptaBle. FotherGilL becamE a lEAding mEmber oF RadiCaL AcTIOn, holDINg The PoSition of TrEASurEr. ImpOrTantLy, in vieW of Fothergill’s lateR RolE in party organIsaTion, rADiCal aCtIOn aLsO WanTED a radical overhaUl of the parTy’S ElEctoral macHIne.

paRty postS

FotherGill hAD become chairman oF the LiberAl partY IN 1946 anD held the poSt until 1949. IN this role HE playED a SigniFicAnt parT iN paRty reConstrUCtiOn and Under hIs LeaderShip tHe Re-establIshment of many local and coNstituEncy pArtIes took plAce. aT thE 1947 party assEmblY, FothergilL rePorTed thAt oVEr 500 actIve aSSoCiaTIons eXistED compared WItH onLY 200 SoMe eight montHS BEfoRe. ThiS leD To the pArty Putting up more candIDates the 1950 generaL eleCTIon ThaN They HaD
 times although he was nev er elected . Hefir stco ntes tedForfarshire at the1945 general election.  In 1 94 7  hee xp resse d an in t er e s t i nbe com in g  L ibera l c andidat e for Orkn eyan d Shetland a t  a  time when  Jo  Grimond had  st ill no tfin a lly d eci ded t o tryh is luc k there a ga i n.

He next fo u g ht  Mid dlesbrough West i n  1 9 50. Middlesbro ugh We st ha d bee n a  Liberal s ea t unt i l the 1 9 45 g e ner a l election an d there was tal k that  t heC onserv ative sw oul d give Foth ergi ll a free  run t h ere ina n anti- social ist  pa ct i n  r et urn  f o r t h elac k  of  a Liber al  c andid atei n M iddl esb roug h Eas t. This cametonoth i nghowev er an d th eresul ts ofthe e le ction seem to i ndic ate it wo uld  h ave  m ade l i ttle d iff ere nce toLabour' s  ab il i t y  t o hold Middlesbrou gh E as t. The c ombine d  L ib e ral-Tory  v ote  inM i ddles brou g hWest wou ld hav e  b ea ten Lab ou r's to ta l b utthe C o nser vative s were s o far ahead of Fothe r gill it is un d er s t an d able  th ey were unw illi n g to  sta n dasi d e for  him. 
F ot h ergill's final atte mp t to e nterthe House ofCommons ca m e at Oldha m We s ti n 1951, when h e los t his depo s it.

Rad icalAction
Originall y known as  th e L ibe ral A ct ion Group, Ra d i calAc tion wa s a  pressu regro upofra nk and fi le membe rs  i ns id e t he Li b eral Par ty  du ri ngthe S e cond W orldWar,  o pp o sin g the p a rt y truc ewh ichthe  l eader ship had  entere d into wi tht he L ab ou r Party  and the Cons er vatives. R ad ica l Acti o n  also so ught to distance the pa r ty from  th e Lib eral  National s.Fother gil l  later  maint ained  t his s tance , pa rti cu larly in r e s pec t ofth e pr oposedLiberal-Liberal Na t ion al merger tal kswhic h we rep ro g res si n g i n Scotland during  1946–1947  t h eterms of w h ich  F othergi ll, tog ether with pa rty leade r Clement  D avie s and  leader in  the Hou se of Lor d s, He r be rt Sa mue l felt  w ere  tota lly un a cce ptabl e. Fot he rgillbecam ea leadin g member of Radical Act ion, h oldin g t he positi ono f T reasurer.  Imp ortantly,invie w ofFot h ergil l’sl at err ole i n pa r ty organi s at ion , Ra dical Actio n a lso  want eda  radic al o verhaul of the pa r ty’s electoral  mac h i ne. 

P a rtypo sts

Fothergil l h ad b ecome Ch ai rman of the  Liberal  P a rty i n 1946  and h eld the p os t  until  194 9.In this r ole  h e  played  a  s i gnific antpa rt inpartyr econ s t ruction and unde r his l eader s hip  there -establ i shme nt of many  local andconsti tuen cy pa rties t oo k plac e.At  the 1947p arty asse mbly,  Fother gi ll r epo rted t hato v er 50 0 ac ti veassociati o n se xi st e d c ompa red w it h on ly 200 so m e eightmon t hs befo re . T h i s ledt ot h e party pu tti ng up m ore candid a test he 1950genera l elec tion th a n t he y had
 times_although he_was never elected. He_first contested_Forfarshire_at the_1945_general election. In_1947 he expressed_an interest in becoming_Liberal candidate for_Orkney_and Shetland at a time when Jo Grimond had still not finally decided to_try_his luck_there_again.

He_next fought Middlesbrough West in_1950. Middlesbrough West had been_a Liberal_seat until the 1945 general election and there_was_talk that the_Conservatives would give Fothergill a free run there in_an anti-socialist pact in return for_the lack of_a_Liberal_candidate in Middlesbrough East._This came to nothing however and_the results of the election seem_to indicate it would have made little_difference to Labour's ability to hold_Middlesbrough East. The combined Liberal-Tory_vote in_Middlesbrough West would have beaten_Labour's total but_the Conservatives_were so far_ahead of Fothergill it is understandable_they were unwilling_to stand aside for him.

Fothergill's final_attempt_to enter the_House_of_Commons came_at Oldham West_in_1951, when_he_lost his deposit.

Radical Action

Originally known as_the_Liberal Action Group, Radical Action was a_pressure group of rank_and_file members inside the_Liberal Party during the Second_World War, opposing the party truce_which the_leadership had_entered into with the Labour Party and the Conservatives. Radical Action_also sought to distance the party_from the Liberal Nationals._Fothergill later_maintained_this stance, particularly_in_respect of_the proposed Liberal-Liberal National merger talks which_were progressing_in Scotland during 1946–1947 the terms_of which Fothergill, together_with_party leader Clement Davies and leader_in the House of Lords, Herbert_Samuel felt were totally unacceptable._Fothergill_became_a leading member of Radical_Action, holding the position of Treasurer._Importantly, in view_of Fothergill’s later role in party organisation,_Radical_Action also wanted a radical overhaul_of_the party’s electoral machine.

Party posts

Fothergill had_become_Chairman_of the Liberal Party in_1946 and held the post until_1949. In this role he played a significant part_in party reconstruction_and under his leadership the_re-establishment_of_many local and constituency parties took place. At the 1947_party assembly,_Fothergill reported that_over 500 active associations existed compared with only 200 some_eight months before. This led to the_party putting up more candidates the 1950 general election than they_had