Winston Churchill Part III

His “ratting” did not endear him to many of his Tory friends and family. He stood as a Liberal for a seat in Manchester and won. In 1906, after a long period of Tory rule, the Liberals got into government again, under Henry Campbell Bannerman. Churchill was now good friends with David Lloyd George, who was an ardent Radical liberal. Winston was engaged in writing a biography of his father, (who had died of syphilis in 1895) which was well received. He became under Secretary for the Colonies, under Lord Elgin. He was hardworking and energetic though he also enjoyed life and travelled in Europe and then in Africa. He gambled and played polo and spent time big game hunting. When Asquith became Prime minister in 1908, Churchill became President of the Board of Trade. He worked hard to improve labour relations and to protect workers. Although he was disliked by many for his overt ambition, and wilfulness, he had a genuine sympathy for the underdog and took his reform work seriously. Then he married socialite Clementine Hozier, who was, like him, sympathetic to Liberal causes. She supported Votes for women.. He didn't, but both of them had genuine sympathy for working people. Clemmie gave birth to their first daughter, Diana. His marriage had its ups and downs, but it was a love match and lasted all Winston’s life. He never seems to have been interested in any other woman. They had 4 daughters and one son Randolph. Clementine often found him exasperating but she devoted herself to helping him with his career. One of their children, Marigold, died in infancy, and Clemmie, though she loved the children, was more inclined to spend her time acting as a political hostess than being a housewife and mother. Winston needed money to promote himself and he was extravagant. But he worked very hard writing books and articles to make the money he needed. He worked all day, partied in the evening and then sat up most of the night doing his "paid work" as a writer.