Rise of the Labour Party

What had happened by 1924?

Labour had replaced the Liberals as the main opposition party to the Conservatives and a new two- way party was firmly established for the rest of the 20th century.

What 2 groups came together to form the Labour party?

Socialists and Trade Unions.

Socialist - Karl Marx called for a revolution to overthrow capitalist system.

Who was the key figure in bringing Socialists and Trade Unions together?

Keir Hardie.

What did Keir Hardie argue?

That the interests of employers, which were all Conservatives or Liberals, were bound to be in conflict with workers.

He was not satisfied with a few working class men sitting with the Liberals as ‘Lib-Labs.’

When was Keir Hardie elected to parliament?

Elected in 1892 and helped set up the Independent Labour Party in 1894.

What did Conservative government do in the 1890s?

Restricted activities of trade unions.

A conference of the ILP and trade unions met in 1900 and formed the Labour Representation committee, soon called the Labour Party.

What caused unions to support Liberals and Labour party?

A strike of the Taff Vale Railway workers. The railway company sued for loss of income and was awarded £42,000. Realised they needed a change in laws.

What agreement was made in 1903?

Liberals made an agreement with Labour not to stand against each other in elections where they thought a single opposition candidate could beat the Conservatives.

This was the ‘Lib-Lab’ pact.

What political fears and suspicions arose due to Lib-Lab pact?

Liberals were uneasy about the rise of an alternative party seeking working class votes.