H. H. Asquith

As Prime Minister, Asquith secured passage of the Parliament Act, which removed the House of Lords' power to veto money bills and reduced its veto over other legislation to a two-year delay. This fundamentally altered the British constitutional balance between the Commons and Lords.

Asquith's cabinet issued an ultimatum to Germany demanding withdrawal from Belgium after the German invasion. When Germany did not comply, Britain declared war on 4 August 1914, committing the British Empire to the First World War.

Asquith's government passed the Government of Ireland Act, granting home rule to Ireland. Implementation was suspended due to the outbreak of World War I and the threat of Ulster Unionist resistance, leaving the Irish question unresolved.

Facing military setbacks and political pressure, Asquith formed a coalition government with the Conservatives and Labour in May 1915. This ended the Liberal Party's sole control of the government and marked a shift in wartime political management.

Asquith resigned as Prime Minister in December 1916 after losing the confidence of Conservative coalition partners and facing criticism over war strategy. David Lloyd George succeeded him, leading a new coalition government.