“So far from enjoying the undisputed hegemony which was so confidently predicted for British trade 50 years ago, there was not now an inch of ground in any one of the international markets for which we were not fighting with all our available strength. We had long ceased to enjoy that relative superiority in natural advantages with which we started upon the race.”

Speech in Leeds (23 November 1900), quoted in The Times (24 November 1900), p. 8
Opposition MP

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H. H. Asquith 26
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1852–1928

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