rise of the labour party

Question 1

arguments for the Labour Party being socialist

Answer 1

-SDF and Fabien society were first attempted organised groups to promote socialist ideal- followed Marx and Engles
-newspaper ‘justice’ printed SDF views
-fabien society aimed to promote peaceful, gradual change to socialism
-both were part of the independent Labour Party
-ILP reflected aims of socialism through its commitment to ‘secure the collective communal ownership of all the means of production, distribution and exchange’

Question 2

arguments against socialist origins of Labour Party

Answer 2

-Labour Party called labour not socialism
-membership of SDF never more than 12k
-fabians preferred permeation rather than forming own political party

Question 3

were the trade union the main cause of the formation of the labour party

Answer 3

-ernest Bevin claimed the Labour Party was formed out of the bowels of the TUC
-1889, SDF and Fabian societies had membership of 2k, Trade unions membership of 75k
-demand for political representation from inside unions greater than from socialist group
-trade unions present at Bradford during ILP
-socialists and trade unions hand in hand (will Thorne ben tiller members of SDF)
-both agreed to clause 4 but when ILP formed SDF and Fabians refused to affiliate

Question 4

labour representation committee

Answer 4

-formed after Lyons vs Wilkins: picketing impossible
-LRC wanted ti represent interests of Labour by improving working conditions, lobbying for reversal of Taff Vale and social welfare legislation
-not socialist
-7 trade unionists, 2 ILP, 2 SDF and 1 fabian

Question 5

taff vale

Answer 5

-sued the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (ASRS) for damages caused by the strike
-unions could be held financially liable for damage done in strikes
-after taff vale, membership of LRC increased from 350k to 861k by 1902
-they were trade unionist
-socialist doctrine missing

Question 6

liberal party and rise of labour

Answer 6

-lib-lab pact had existed before 1906
-many labour leading lights were ex-liberal
-origin was 1906 election based on 1903 lib-lab pact
-labour ran 50 candidates, 30 unopposed by liberals 29 were successful
-after 1906, some claimed liberals were seen as voting fodder on liberal issues