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Glossary - L


Laming Worthington-Evans, Sir

Conservative politician who served in various ministries in Lloyd George's coalition government, becoming Secretary of State for War between 1921-1922. One of Britain's delegates to the International Economic Conference in Genoa in 1922, and a member of the British delegation negotiating the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1922

Len Murray

Labour politician and trade union leader. A Trades Union Congress (TUC) employee from 1947, he became General Secretary in 1973, leading it through the 'Winter of Discontent' and in many confrontations with Margaret Thatcher. He retired in 1984, becoming a life peer in 1985

Leo Abse

Labour back-bench MP for 30 years, noted for his independent spirit and willingness to take up controversial issues. He effectively advocated legislation that simplified the legal process of divorce and promoted a private members bill to legalise male homosexual relations, implementing the recommendations of the Wolfenden Report

Leo Amery

Conservative MP for 34 years. Held various ministerial posts from 1919-1929, including Colonial Secretary, before becoming part of Churchill's wartime coalition. Famous for telling Chamberlain in the House of Commons in 1940: 'In the name of God, go!'

Leon Blum

French Prime Minister in 1936, his Popular Front coalition government of radicals, communists and socialists fell because of failure to agree  appropriate action in the Spanish Civil War. Being Jewish he was interned in a German concentration camp in the Second World War, he briefly returned to power from 1946-1947

Leslie Rowan

British civil servant. Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the Prime Minister during the Second World War. Rowan was also Chair of the British Council from 1971-1972


Province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region

'liberty' and 'victory' ships

US cargo ships built from pre-fabricated sections welded together. Constructed in large numbers for Lend-Lease provision to Britain during the Second World War.  'Liberty' ships, built from 1941, were slow and easy targets for German U-boats. They were superseded by the faster, larger and more durable 'Victory' ships from 1943

Light Cruisers

A warship. Defined by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1921 as 'displacing no more than 10,000 tons and armed with (faster-firing) guns not exceeding 6.1 inches'. Following the London Naval Treaty of 1930 it was regarded as more effective to build light cruisers than heavy cruisers

Local Education Authorities (LEAs)

Set up by the 1902 Education Act. Each council had to set up a committee, known as the Local Education Authorities (LEA) which was responsible for state schools in their area and funding students for Higher Education. In 1989 they lost responsibility for Higher Education. After some reform they were renamed Local Authorities in all legislation

Local Government Board

Set up in 1871 it took over responsibility for all aspects of local government from various ministries and the Poor Law Board. Succeeded by the Ministry of Health in 1919


A work stoppage in which an employer prevents his workers from working, if necessary by closing the business

London County Council

Elected body created in 1889, it lasted till 1965. Set up by the Local Government Act of 1888, it replaced a collection of elected and non-elected boards. Responsible for education and transport as well as council housing, it was an attempt to treat the needs of London as a whole

Longford Committee

Longford was a campaigning Labour peer driven by a desire for social and penal reform. In 1963 his Committee recommended the setting-up of the parole system, the bedrock of the current system

Lord Advocate

The chief legal officer and public prosecutor of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for all civil and criminal matters. The office holder is one of the Great Officers of State of Scotland

Lord Chancellor

Appointed by the Sovereign on the Prime Minister's advice and custodian of the Great Seal. A Cabinet member, holding responsibility for the efficient functioning and independence of the Courts. Until 2005 was the presiding officer of the House of Lords and head of the judiciary

Lord President of the Council

Person responsible for presiding over the monthly meetings of the Privy Council. Held wherever the Sovereign is currently residing. Gives formal approval to Orders-in-Council. A Cabinet post, the position is often given to a government minister with no department-specific responsibilities, such as the Leader of the House of Commons

Lord Privy Seal

Traditionally responsible for the monarch's personal (privy) seal, the office holder has a seat in the Cabinet, usually as a Minister without Portfolio, with no specific responsibility. Frequently combined with the post of Leader of the House of Lords or Commons, it is one of the Great Offices of State

Low Countries

A term used to indicate Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg


The second largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, situated on the Trave River


Name of the German air force founded in 1933 in direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles

Lugard, Lord

British soldier and diplomat. Became High Commissioner for North Nigeria protectorate in 1900, then governor-general for Hong Kong before returning to Nigeria in 1912 as governor. He developed the 'Lugard Rules' for running colonies based upon traditional native institutions

Lyndon B Johnson

American President from 1963-1969. He continued Kennedy's work on desegregation and civil rights. His escalation of the war in Vietnam led to huge protest - 'Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?' and he stood down in 1968 rather than face electoral defeat