Constitutional Crisis Flashcards
(26 cards)
When was the Campbell- Bannerman resolution?
26th June 1907
Why did the Campbell-Bannerman resolution fail?
Despite its widespread support the House of Commons did not have the power to enforce limitations on the HoL
When was the people’s budget introduced?
29th April 1909
What income tax did the people’s budget propose?
Raised income tax on 3000p/a from 3.75%, 9d to 5% 12d and an additional ‘supertax’ of 2.5% 6d for incomes over 5000p/a
When did the HoL reject the people’s budget?
30th November 1909, 350 votes to 75
What land tax did the people’s budget propose?
Proposed land tax on the wealthy, with a development tax of 1/2 d in the pound, and a 20% tax on increment value.
What defect did Lloyd George predict for the following year?
17m defecit
Who had privately urged the HoL against the rejection of the People’s Budget?
King Edward VII
What did Asquith declare the HoL rejection of the budget to be?
A breach of the constitution, as they were not meant to interfere with money bills.
When was the January election held?
Between 15th Jan- 10th Feb 1910
What did the Liberals campaign in both elections?
Campaign nickname ‘peers vs people’ , campaigned what they described as an “issue of democracy”
What was the Result of the January 1910 election?
A hung parliament; Lib-275, Conservatives- 273, Irish/ Labour- 111 seats
When did the Lords accept the People’s Budget?
28th April 1910
How was the People’s Budget a success?
It raised more than the revenue estimates predicted, with a surplus of 5.6m between 1910-11, and 6.4 between 1911-12
When did the Liberals create the parliament bill?
April 1910
What did the Parliament Bill propose?
It deprived the HoL of its absolute power to veto legislation, stating; HoL could not interfere with money bills, they could only veto legislation for a maximum of 2 years, and that general elections would be held every 5 years, not 7
When did Asquith convince King George V, and to do what?
May 1910, to threaten to flood the HoL with liberal peers, as Asquith knew the conservatives were intimidated by liberal alliances and that they saw their dominance in the HoL as their only current way to stop the spread of radical liberalism. The King did this, but insisted an election be held.
When was the December election?
3rd-9th December 1910
What were the results of the December election?
Hung parliament; Lib-272, Cons-272, Irish/ Labour-116 seats
When did the HoC pass the Parliament Bill?
May 1911
When did the HoL pass the Parliament Bill?
11th August 1911, 131 votes to 114
When did Balfour resign?
11th December 1911, yet again paying the price for the failure of a campaign he never fully supported
What weaknesses did the Constitutional Crisis expose?
Weaknesses within the parliamentary system, through the involvement of the monarchy who was meant to have and show political neutrality.
What was the significance of Liberals losing their overall majority?
They were reliant on the Irish Nationalists to stay in power, who directly led the creation of the Third Home Bill, the liberals’ deal- making weakened their legitimacy and created tensions with the ulster
