As we all know, 1916 was a really bad year for the Last of the Romans. He lost his son in the Somme, and by December, Lloyd George had engineered circumstances so that he could emerge as Prime Minister over the War Cabinet in coalition with the Tories. The thing split the Liberals right through the middle, and, as Andrew Marr put it, they've never
really recovered since. A pretty sad ending to the political partnership of two of Britain's greatest Prime Ministers, and sad to everyone who likes the Liberal Party.
"Time to sort out the business of succession..."
So, how about something to keep this end to Asquith premiership from happening. After all, Asquith's own son Raymond had fallen in the war, let's make that have a little more impact on him, and make him reconsider whether he is the best man for the job over the summer. He soon invites his trusted Chancellor and ally in the Parliamentary Reform just 5 years ago, David Lloyd, to Chequers for tea and the two begin discussing Asquith's desire to retire and for Lloyd George to take the premiership. Asquith, though eager to be relieved from the pressures of wartime government does not want it to look like he's running away from his patriotic duty. Simultaneously, the hero of the People's Budget is the natural heir to the Liberal Party leadership and the office in 10 Downing Street. That is a post Lloyd George is more than eager himself to lay his hands on.
Now, what agreement does Asquith and Lloyd George eventually reach?