A changing political and economic environment - 1918-1979

Question 1

Liberal party

Answer 1

• Led by Lloyd George in a coalition through the first world war
• Lloyd George/Asquith divide led to tensions within the party
• Asquith was more traditionally liberal, Lloyd George worked alongside cons.
• Lloyd George sold honours where he openly sold knighthoods and other titles to fund his party

Question 2

1922 election

Answer 2

• Conservatives won majority - their motto was ‘safety first’, and their leader Baldwin inspired confidence in many
• Labour became opposition for the first time, largely due to ROPA 1918 which gave working class men the vote and women over 30
• Liberals never again took power - never recovered from the LG/A split

Question 3

Early Labour

Answer 3

• First labour administration - the labour party was accused of being sympathizers to communism by both Cons and Lib - for instance, the Campbell affair, where Labour dropped charges against a communist man accused of inciting mutiny
• Labour found it difficult to appeal to non-WC
• Second labour, 1929-31 - Heavy economic issues caused by the Wall Street Crash caused Macdonald to have to enter a coalition government in 1931, forming the National Government

Question 4

National Government 1931-45

Answer 4

• Tariffs - Import Duties Act 1932 introduced a 10% tariff
• Interest rates dropped to stimulate recovery
• Unemployment Act 1934 introduced the ‘means test’ for benefits
• Public Order Act aimed to reduce the threat from extremist groups
• Faced threats from communist and far-right parties - people were desperate, and turned to more radical groups for a solution
• Continued to wartime. Initially led by Chamberlain, who failed in his attempts to appease Hitler. Eventually replaced by Churchill
• Total war during ww2 - government controlled everything, accepted by most as necessary for victory

Question 5

Consensus politics post-WW2

Answer 5

• Post-war consensus until the early 70s, where the major parties agreed on major policies, i.e. the involvement of the gov. in the economy, continuation of the welfare state, goal of full employment
• 1945-51: Labour nationalised industry such as coal and shipbuilding as well as introducing the NHS in 1948. Controversial, and forced them to continue with austerity measures to maintain.
• 1951-1964: Replaced by Conservatives in 1951. Prosperity during this period, led by Macmillan saying ‘most of our people have never had it so good’. Britain lost credibility as a world power due to e.g suez crisis, and persistent economic issues
• 1964-70: Labour won in 1964 - there was economic issues, such as having to devalue the pound and failures to solve industrial disputes. However, victories in social issues - comprehensive education (1965), abortion and homosexuality legalised, death penalty abolished
• 1970-74: Conservatives won power, led by Heath, who was more critical of consensus politics. Dominated by economic issues, industrial unrest, culminating in ‘three-day week’ of 1973-74
• 1974-79: Labour took power, but post-war consensus was abandoned. Callaghan’s government was brought down by the ‘winter of discontent’ that ushered in Thatcher.

Question 6

Economic challenges - 1918-1939

Answer 6

• Post-war boom, short lived and ended in recession in 1920. By 1921, 2 million workers in traditional industries had lost their jobs.
• Trad industries - markets had been lost during ww1, new competition emerged in the USA and Japan which were most cost-effective than UK industries, and they were underinvested in the UK.
• GEDDES AXE 1921 - Implemented by Lloyd-George. £87 million in cuts, with welfare and housing hit particularly hard