'It was the issue of poverty that caused the Liberal Government to introduce social reforms in the years 1906-1911' Assess the validity of this view.

P1 - Issue of poverty

• Booth & Rowntree researched poverty & lives of urban poor. → Booth 30% in London & Rowntree 28% in York living below the poverty line.

• Problems with health, crime, disease, malnutrition, etc.

• Campaigned for more govt action & helped to change attitudes towards poverty.

• Need for 1906 Education Acts, 1908 Pensions Act, 1911 National Insurance Acts for sickness and unemployment

• T.H. Green 'positive' freedom; help people to become free.

• L.T. Hobhouse developed study of sociology → Led to move away from individualism & towards collectivism, emphasis on community & belief that govt had duty to intervene to improve the life for community

• However -

• Not all Liberals agreed, those in powerful positions did - Asquith, Lloyd George and W. Churchill- possibly as way to unite party due to Gladstone & HR to dominate again in political landscape

P2 - Political threats & pragmatism

• Threat from Lab→ Politically advantageous of Liberals to bring in reforms as popularity of Labour was growing (30MPs in 1906) & majority of electorate was now WC.

• TUC pressured for pensions & DLG believed lack of reforms would damage the Liberals.

• Threat from Conservatives: Cons a more realistic threat to power than Lab; Libs wanted to ensure they implemented any reforms in case Cons won next election & brought them in, Worried Cons would bring in reforms & pay through tariffs, whereas Liberals wanted Free Trade & progressive taxation

• However -

• Yet not all w/c wanted social reforms-hated Poor Law and slum clearances, resented children being educated instead of working, preferred self-help, more interested in Free Trade.

• Cons themselves were divided over tariffs - unreasonable & less credible argument

P3 - National Efficiency

• Competition from empire rivals Germany & America; to be efficient and productive the workforce had to be healthy.

• More industrialists started to support the idea of a state health insurance scheme.

• Security concerns - 40% of volunteers for Boer War were rejected as unfit(disproportionately poor though) → Need a healthy army

• However -

• Boer war 1899-1902 result as a way to gain advantage of Cons (Cons neglectful of people’s wellbeing, Liberals implementing social reform illustrate a govt sympathising & taking action for people’s welfare thereby using social reform as political tool)

Conclusion

• Political pragmatism & threats as main reason for social reforms

• Liberals previously divided party due to HR and dominance of Cons before & Labour emerging as growing threat through gaining WC support left Liberals deserted and utilised social reform as political tool to dominate again