Constituency : Cleveland 1902-18, Darwen 1929-35
Herbert took over after the resignation of Alfred Pease at Darlington.
Herbert was the brother of Stuart Samuel. He was educated at University College School and Oxford. Although his family was Jewish he announced his own atheism in 1892 ; he did keep some elements of Jewish practice. He fought contests at South Oxfordshire in 1895 and 1900. He was on the radical left of the party and friendly with the Fabians.
Herbert was appointed to Under Secretary of State at the Home Office in 1905. Herbert was appointed to the Cabinet in 1909 as Cancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and progressed through the posts of Postmaster-General and President of the Local Government Board to Home Secretary when Simon resigned over conscription.
Herbert suggested a British Protectorate over Palestine in 1915 to further Zionist aims .
In 1916 Lloyd George asked Herbert to stay on as Home Secretary but he chose to go with Asquith instead.
Herbert was initially opposed to women's suffrage but changed his mind. In 1917, at a Speaker's Conference on female suffrage, Herbert passed a motion allowing women to be candidates.
Although Herbert was willing to support the Coalition in 1918 the coupon went to the Tory candidate instead and he was defeated.
Herbert was appointed as High Commissioner of Palestine in 1920, an appointment confirmed by the League of Nations in 1922. Both General Allenby and the Foreign Secretary Lord Curzon expressed grave doubts about appointing a firm Zionist to the post and the effects this would have on the Arab and Christian population . In post Herbert tried to steer a middle course , limiting Jewish immigration without putting the Arabs in a position to stop it. He served there until 1925.
As soon as Herbert returned to the UK , Baldwin asked him to head a commission to look into the condition of the mining industry. The Commission recommended reorganisation but not nationalisation , the withdrawal of government subsidies and a cut in wages. It was a factor leading to the General Strike, during which he acted as a mediator.
In 1927 Herbert became head of the Liberal Party Organisation allowing the Party to present a relatively united front at the 1929 election.
In 1929 Herbert returned to the Commons as MP for Darwen. He was appointed deputy leader of the Liberal party and took over when Lloyd George fell ill in 1931.That left him in charge of the negotiations on the formation of the National Government. He resumed as Home Secretary with Lloyd George's approval but they then fell out over the calling of a General Election. Lloyd George said he and members of his family would fight it as Independent Liberals leaving Herbert as leader of the parliamentary party.
Herbert soon found his position uncongenial as Baldwin moved to a protectionist policy, He granted Herbert a suspension of collective responsibility to allow the few Liberal members of the government to oppose tariffs. Once they were introduced in 1932, Herbert and his colleagues resigned their ministerial posts but supported the government as backbenchers. In November 1933 they crossed the floor and reunited with Lloyd George. Herbert remained as leader of a party lacking funds, motivation and direction, a situation for which he must shoulder some of the blame.
In 1935 Herbert lost his seat. In 1937 he was created Viscount Samuel. He supported Chamberlain's appeasement policy and even advocated the return of pre-war German colonies. He declined an offer to return to government.
In 1944 Herbert became Liberal leader in the Lords holding the position until he retired in 1955.
In 1951 Herbert became the first politician to deliver a party political broadcast on television.
In the fifties Herbert wrote three contemplative books on philosophy and science.
He died in 1963 aged 92.
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