History of the British peerage much more common. The peerage ceased to be associated with wealth or land ownership. At the beginning of the century, however, such associations remained for some time. In 1909, Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George proposed the introduction of a land tax, which the landowning peers opposed. The House of Lords rejected the budget. After the general election of January 1910, the returned government introduced the Parliament Bill, which sought to curtail the powers of the Lords. When the Lords attempted to block the bill, the prime minister, Herbert Henry Asquith, threatened to have the king create two hundred
A Very British Coup The first version, also titled "A Very British Coup", was adapted in 1988 by screenwriter Alan Plater and starring Ray McAnally. The 2012 four-part Channel 4 series, "Secret State", was "inspired" by the same novel. Starring Gabriel Byrne, this version was written by Robert Jones. A Very British Coup A Very British Coup is a 1982 novel by British politician Chris Mullin. The novel has twice been adapted for television; as "A Very British Coup" in 1988 and as "Secret State" in 2012. Harry Perkins is the left-wing Leader of the Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central.