1929-31: the Labour Government

Question 1

why did the second labour government start out with high hopes in 1929

Answer 1

the liberals had become marginalised and labour now clearly a major player in britains 2 party system

Question 2

what did MacDonald believe labour now had the chance to do

Answer 2

remove any doubts in the minds of voters as to the credibility of labour as a respectable party of gov

Question 3

what was MacDonalds optimism boosted by

Answer 3

the dip in unemployment figures

Question 4

who did MacDonald invite as Britains first female cabinet minister

Answer 4

Margaret Bondfield

Question 5

Domestic policies: when was the housing act introduced

Answer 5

1930

Question 6

Domestic policies: who was the housing act introduced by

Answer 6

Arthur Greenwood

Question 7

Domestic policies: what did housing act increase/introduce

Answer 7

increased subsidies for house building

introduced new slum clearance schemes

Question 8

Domestic policies: when was coal mines act introduced

Answer 8

1930

Question 9

Domestic policies: what did coal mines act attempt to reduce

Answer 9

bitterness caused by General Strike

Question 10

Domestic policies: how did coal mines act aim to reduce bitterness caused by general strike

Answer 10

by reducing miners working hours from 8-7.5 hour shifts

Question 11

Domestic policies: when was the land utilisation and agricultural marketing act introduced

Answer 11

1931

Question 12

Domestic policies: what did the land utilisation and agricultural marketing act establish

Answer 12

a series of marketing boards to help producers

Question 13

Domestic policies: what did marketing boards (land utilisation and agricultural marketing act) have power to do

Answer 13

fix prices and arrange supplies more efficiently

Question 14

Domestic policies: when was London transport bill introduced

Answer 14

1931 but didn’t become law until 1933

Question 15

Domestic policies: who was London transport bill introduced by

Answer 15

Herbert Morrison

Question 16

Domestic policies: what did London transport bill create

Answer 16

a public corporation responsible for providing cheap and efficient public transport for london

Question 17

Domestic policies: what benefits were increased

Answer 17

unemployment benefits

Question 18

Domestic policies: why did several attempts at reform fail

Answer 18

through lack of liberal support

Question 19

Domestic policies: which attempts at reform failed through lack of liberal support

Answer 19

• education bill that aimed at raising school leaving age to 15
• bill to create a maximum working week of 48h
• plans to repeal 1927 TU act

Question 20

Domestic policies: how was Britain affected by wall street crash

Answer 20

loss of American markets and reduction in European trade as other nations suffered

Question 21

Domestic policies: how much did the value of british exports fall by between end of 1929-1931

Answer 21

half

Question 22

Domestic policies: unemployment rate 1931 and 1932

Answer 22

1931- 2.5 million

1932- 3 million

Question 23

Response to economic crisis: what was MacDonalds economic expertise like

Answer 23

he was no economist and had little idea of how to tackle unemployment

Question 24

Response to economic crisis: what did MacDonald set up in 1930

Answer 24

Economic Advisory Council

Question 25

Response to economic crisis: why did macdonald set up economic advisory council in 1930

Answer 25

consisted of economists and industrialists to provide advice but remained wary of new ideas

Question 26

Response to economic crisis: why did unemployment put a strain on gov finances

Answer 26

more unemployment meant more unemployment benefits

Question 27

Response to economic crisis: what did allowing huge sums of money to disappear in benefits undermine MacDonalds belief in

Answer 27

a balanced budget and appeared irresponsible at a time when party wanted to be viewed as capable and trustworthy, despite welfare of working man being integral to party's belief's

Question 28

Response to economic crisis: what did Philip snowden accept were fundamental principles

Answer 28

a balanced budget and maintaining the gold standard

Question 29

Response to economic crisis: who was phillip snowden

Answer 29

chancellor of exchequer

Question 30

Response to economic crisis: what would balancing budget involve and what did this mean

Answer 30

would involve retrenchment which would mean reducing expenditure on welfare

Question 31

Response to economic crisis: what did mosley call for

Answer 31

an expansionary government spending policy, financing public works schemes and social reforms

Question 32

Response to economic crisis: how did MacDonald react to Moseleys ideas

Answer 32

he wasn't convinced theyd work and fearful that such radical measures would undermine confidence in british gov overseas and create more unemployment

Question 33

Response to economic crisis: why did Mosley resign in may 1930

Answer 33

when his mosley memorandum was rejected

Question 34

Response to economic crisis: what could even the cabinet not agree on after mosley resigned

Answer 34

the size of the cuts needed to balance the budget

Question 35

Response to economic crisis: why was it essential for labour to win over the opposition party leaders

Answer 35

their support was essential for any measure to pass through the commons

Question 36

Response to economic crisis: why did the liberals propose a committee in may 1931

Answer 36

in response to baking crisis | to consider how gov might curb its expenditure and restore confidence

Question 37

Response to economic crisis: who was the may committee chaired by

Answer 37

sir George may

Question 38

Response to economic crisis: when was the may committees report published

Answer 38

31 july 1931

Question 39

Response to economic crisis: what did the may report predict

Answer 39

a massive budget deficit of £120 million by 1932 unless severe cuts were made in gov spending

Question 40

Response to economic crisis: what did the may report recommend cuts amounting to

Answer 40

£96.5 million with pay cuts for public sector employees and a 20% cut in unemployment benefit and heavier taxation

Question 41

Response to economic crisis: did the two labour members of the may committee agree with the may reports proposals

Answer 41

no, they produced their own minority report, but were ignored

Question 42

Response to economic crisis: what did the may report deepen

Answer 42

the financial crisis still further by drawing attenting to britains alleged problems

Question 43

Response to economic crisis: who did the may recommendations cause an outcry from

Answer 43

many labour party members and trade unionists

Question 44

Response to economic crisis: what did dissenting labour party members and trade unionists want the government to do

Answer 44

tax the rich more heavily rather than cutting gov spending at the expense of the unemployed

Question 45

Response to economic crisis: why did some believe the economic crisis would be a good thing

Answer 45

if capitalism collapsed, the way would be clearer for socialism

Question 46

Response to economic crisis: what did macdonald personally favour

Answer 46

taxation increases, but felt compelled to follow may report because other parties wouldn't agree to these

Question 47

Response to economic crisis: who met on the 12 august to consider what to do

Answer 47

the cabinet economy committee, including MacD, Henderson, Thomas and snowden

Question 48

Response to economic crisis: what did the cabinet economy committee agree ti cuts amounting to on the 19th august

Answer 48

£56 million

Question 49

Response to economic crisis: why did leaders of other parties reject cuts of £56 million

Answer 49

too small

Question 50

Response to economic crisis: what did tuc leaders reject at their meeting with macdonald and snowden

Answer 50

any cuts that would affect the unemployed | may committees proposals entirely

Question 51

Response to economic crisis: what vote did the cabinet come to on sunday 23 august

Answer 51

vote of approval to substantial cuts in unemployment benefits but only by 11-9 vots

Question 52

Response to economic crisis: why did MacD go to Buckingham palace on 24 august

Answer 52

to tender his govs resignation to king George v

Question 53

the reasons for the NG: why was it agreed macdonald would continue as pm despite his resignation

Answer 53

king spoke to Samuel (liberals) and Baldwin (conservatives) and it was agreed macondald would be head of new ng based on support from all main political parties

Question 54

the reasons for the NG: how was the NG viewed at the time

Answer 54

temporary measure | gov of persons not parties

Question 55

the reasons for the NG: what advantages did conservatives and liberals see in macdonald continuing as pm

Answer 55

drastic economic cuts and generally unpopular measures taken at time

Question 56

the reasons for the NG: which 3 members of labour cabinet chose to follow mcd into ng

Answer 56

Snowden, Thomas and lord sankey

Question 57

the reasons for the NG: what did many labour mps, party members and trade unionists accused MacDonald of after events of 1931

Answer 57

treachery in abandoning cause of working man and only thinking of own career ambitions in accepting leadership of ng and thus becoming 'saviour' of country

Question 58

the reasons for the NG: why did many argue that macdonald needlessly set up the may committee

Answer 58

could've relied on economic advisory council he set up himself not brave enough to consider new ideas and ignored the imaginative schemes put forward by mosley

Question 59

the reasons for the NG: why was macdonald accused of being slow to respond to crisis

Answer 59

he allowed it to get worse

Question 60

the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald fail to appreciate

Answer 60

the depth of feeling within the labour party over the unemployment benefit cuts too ready to ignore unions and advice of own cabinet ministers

Question 61

the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald fail to do when the party split became obvious

Answer 61

take honourable course and resign instead aligned himself with conservatives- ultimate act of betrayal

Question 62

the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald call an election in 1931 despite

Answer 62

promised not to do so timing of election caused electoral disaster for labour

Question 63

the reasons for the NG: what did later labour leader Attlee say about macdonalds action

Answer 63

'greatest act of political betrayal of this country'