Chapter 8- Politics 1906-1914

Graduated taxation

a system where taxation increases with the value of the sum being taxed

David Lloyd George

- Closely associated with new liberalism and was the driving force behind many of the Liberal's social reforms
- As Chancellor of the Exchequer he introduced a controversial budget to fund new social reforms
- Appointed minister of munitions in 1915 and became PM of the wartime coalition

What did the January 1906 election produce for the Liberals?

A landslide victory winning 400 seats

Landslide

In which one party wins a huge majority of seats over all other parties in the House of Commons, reversing the previous government majority

How many seats did the Conservatives receive in the 1906 election?

157

Which Conservatives lost their seats in the 1906 election?

Most of the Conservative cabinet including PM A.J. Balfour

How many seats did Labour win in the 1906 election?

29 outright

What did the Liberal government that came to power in January 1906 introduce?

A set of social reforms that were more far-reaching than any measures passed by any previous government

What do some historians argue that these Liberal social reforms did?

Laid the foundations for the modern welfare state

In 1906 what were many Liberals still committed to?

Gladstonian laissez-faire Liberalism

What had not been a key election issue?

Social welfare, so the Liberals did not have a clear social welfare programme

Since the 1880s what had 'New Liberals' been interested in?

Moving away from laissez-faire principles to a new idea that state intervention was necessary to achieve a minimum acceptable standard of living

What approach did the new Liberals believe in towards social reform?

A humanitarian approach, recognizing that poorer sections of society required more state assistance

What approach did Gladstonian Liberalism take to social reform?

Promotes the values of self-help, thriftiness and a hard work effort, to achieve a decent standard of living

Although the values of self-help and thriftiness remained in new liberalism what was there a growing acceptance of?

That poverty was more caused by external factors beyond a person's control, rather than fecklessness

What did the higher spending of New Liberalism contradict?

The traditional Liberal emphasis on thrift and low taxation

What did some new liberals believe in a scheme of?

Contributory payments in return for benefits for certain groups, as pioneered in Germany

What did more radical Liberals believe there should be?

Some element of redistribution of income by taxing the rich and diverting some of the money to the poor

What seemed to be the obvious conclusion of the call of radical Liberals to tax the rich?

By taxing their land, which had risen dramatically with urban development

How did the Liberals achieve a compromise between the traditional Liberals and the new Liberals?

Liberals raised a tax on the incremental value of land, on unearned rather than earned income

What did younger middle-class Liberals like Herbert Samuel bring an awareness to?

Human misery and suffering caused by the unending cycle of poverty

Who were Samuel and others deeply influenced by?

The findings of Charles Booth and Seebohm Rowntree in the 1890s and 1900s

What did civil servants with strong convictions like Robert Morant and William Beveridge do with their views?

Made their views on poverty and social reform felt in the government

Who became the two most prominent members of new liberalism?

Lloyd George and Winston Churchill

Where did Lloyd George go to witness welfare legislation?

Germany

As Liberal party leader what had Bannerman succeeded in doing?

Bringing together a divided Liberal Party by persuading the various groups to set aside their differences in order to defeat the Conservatives

What was Bannerman's cabinet regarded as?

One of exceptional talent and ability

How did Bannerman's cabinet have balance?

- It had traditional Gladstonians
- Moderates such as Asquith and Haldane
- New Liberals such as Lloyd George
- Working-class Labour MP John Burnes

What was Cambell-Bannerman?

A traditional Gladstonian Liberal, with most of the legislation under his premiership reflecting that

What influence did the New Liberals have in the 1906 Liberal cabinet?

Little influence

What did the fresh intake of Liberal MPs canvass their leaders to do?

To use the power of the state to respond to huge social problems that beset so many of the working-class

What did the New Liberals argue against?

Individualism and instead favoured collectivism

Why did the New Liberals take their collectivism campaign to the press?

As in parliament the Liberal Chief Whip announced 'the Liberal Party must crusade against collectivism'

Individualism

The commonly held belief that individuals should take responsibility for their well-being and that of their families through thriftiness and hard-work, stemmed from laissez-faire and self-help

Collectivism

The belief that it was the responsibility of the government to address the basic needs of the people. From 1870 governments started to move away from the principle of laissez-faire and took more action to deal with social problems.

Herbert Henry Asquith

- His government was renowned for introducing far-reaching social reforms, challenging the power of the House of Lords, conducting an arms race with Germany and taking Britain into WW1
- Had outstanding intellect which facilitated his political progress

What was the Liberal government certainly made aware of?

Growing concern over poverty but it was equally conscious of the potential threat from Labour

What was there an anxiety among the Liberal leadership about?

That if they did not attempt to meet the needs of the working class, these voters would increasingly turn to the Labour Party

When is it easier to identify the influence of new liberalism?

After the change in leadership of the party in 1908

When did Cambell-Bannerman die?

2 weeks after his resignation due to ill health in 1908 and Asquith was appointed Liberal Party leader and PM

What did the cabinet reshuffle following Asquiths government appointment do?

Altered the balance of power within the government, placing more emphasis on the need for social reform

What positions did Lloyd George and Winston Churchill have in Asquith's new government?

- Lloyd George promoted to Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Winston Churchill became President of the Board of Trade

What is opinion divided over?

Whether Lloyd George converted to new liberalism, as some of his speeches emulate desires to tackle social problems but this could have been motivation to win labour support

How does G.R. Searle sum up the Liberal portion in 1908?

'The Old Radicalism survived, not least the preoccupation with the abuse of landed privilege; but there was henceforward commitment to collectivist welfare, aimed at improving the lives of the urban poor. A new era of welfare had begun'

Winston Churchill

- Entered parliament as Conservative, later joined the Liberal Party
- Deserted Liberals in 1923 and became chancellor under Baldwin
- Churchill languished in the political wilderness throughout the 1930s, and was a lone voice warning against the appeasement towards Hitler
- PM twice 1940-45 and 1951-56
- Labelled as an outstanding statesmen, a fine orator and an inspirational wartime leader

What were the election results of the 1900 election?

Conservatives 334
Liberal Unionists 68
Liberals 184
Irish Nationalists 82
Labour 2

What were the election results of the 1906 election?

Conservatives 133
Liberal unionists 24
Liberals 400
Irish Nationalists 83
Labour 29

What were the election results of the January 1910 election?

Conservatives 241
Liberal Unionists 32
Liberals 275
Irish Nationalists 82
Labour 40

What were the election results of the December 1910 election?

Conservative 237
Liberal Unionists 35
Liberals 272
Irish Nationalists 84
Labour 42

What are the Liberal governments of 1906-1914 renowned for?

Their programme of welfare reforms

What did the Liberal challenge to the political power of the House of Lords do?

Caused tension in parliament and public debate outside, led to one of the major constitutional crises of the 20th century

When was Lloyd George's people's budget?

April 1909

When did the Lords reject Lloyd George's people's budget?

November 1909

When did Asquith call a general election for mandate for the abolition of Lord's power to veto finance bills?

December 1909

What did the January 1910 election give the Liberals?

A narrow majority

When was the Parliament bill introduced?

May 1910

When did the Lords pass the people's budget?

April 1910

When was the death of Edward VII?

May 1910

When was the constitutional crisis that ended the deadlock, where Lloyd George promises to create new Liberal peers to get the budget through the Lords?

November 1910

When was the general election to get mandate for reform of Lords?

December 1910

When was the Parliament bill approved by the Commons?

May 1911

When we're amendments to the Bill by the Lords rejected by the Commons?

July 1911

When was the Kings promise revealed and Bill accepted in Lords of 131 votes to 114?

August 1911

What were the House of Lords and Commons at by 1901?

An even footing

How would a Parliament bill become law?

If it passed each of the readings in both houses, and amendments were considered, it would become law once approved by the monarch

What did the Lords have the power to do?

Veto a bill after it had passed the Commons

What had it become custom of for finance bills (budgets)?

To be raised only in the Commons and not be vetoed by the Lords, as parliamentary business would be brought to a standstill

When did the veto of the Lords on any government bill become more questionable?

- As the commons became more democratic and more representative
- Lords were unelected representatives of the landed classes

When did Balfour return to Parliament after he had lost his seat in the 1906 election?

Became leader in a by-election of a largely protectionist party

Who became leader of the House of Lords?

Lord Lansdowne

What were the majority of the Lords like?

- Traditionalist in outlook by virtue of their background
- Most actively supported the Conservative Party

How did Balfour take advantage of Conservative dominance in the House of Lords?

Working closely with Lansdowne, encouraged the Lords to vote against Liberal legislation at every opportunity

What did the 591 members of the House of Lords consist of?

- 561 hereditary peers
- 24 Anglican bishops
- 2 Archbishops
- 4 Law lords

What proportion of the Lords were Conservative?

2/3 and the remainder Liberal

How could the size of the House of Lords be increased?

By the monarchs creation of new peers

How had Salisbury used the tactic of Conservative dominance in the Lords?

By bringing down Gladstone's home rule bill in 1894 and Lord Rosebery in 1895

What did Balfour policy of using the Lords to undermine ground-breaking social reform turn out to do?

Bring about the greatest constitutional crisis in Britain since the 1832 Parliamentary reform act

When the Lords rejected the people's budget in 1909, encouraged by Balfour, what did the Liberals do?

Called an election, which Liberals won with a much reduced majority

What did Cambell-Bannerman and Asquith think about the House of Lords?

That in blocking worthwhile legalisation it was exceeding its role as a revision chamber to amend and improve legislation already passed by the Commons.

What was the House of Lords purpose?

To act as a check on the power of the Commons, but not to obstruct it from carrying out the business of government.

What were the feelings of the progressive element of the Liberals and Labour towards the House of Lords?

The Liberals were uncomfortable with its undemocratic nature and many in the Labour Party were opposed to its existence

What did Lloyd George wish to fund with his people's budget of 1909?

- Social reforms
- Building of dreadnoughts as there was a growing naval threat from Germany

How did Lloyd George want to fund his peoples budget?

Direct taxation or income tax

How did the House of Lords react to the Peoples budget?

Reacted strongly believing it was an attack on their landed wealth and privilege by breaking their convention of never voting on a money bill

What did the House of Lords do in November 1909?

Through out the peoples budget and set in motion a constitutional crisis

What did Lloyd George say about the House of Lords in his October 1909 speech in Newcastle?

'Let them realise what they are doing. They are forcing a revolution, and they will get it. The Lords may decree a revolution, but the people will direct it'

What did Asquith do in January 1910?

Called the Lords' actions unconstitutional and called an election of

What did the results of the January 1910 election mean?

The balance rested in favour of the Irish Nationalists (82 seats) and the Labour Party (40 seats)

What did the Parliament bill presented to the Commons by Asquith declare?

- Lords had no right to amend or veto a money bill
- Speaker of Commons was to define a money bill
- Any other bills could be amended or rejected, but only for a period of 2 years, when they automatically would become law
- General elections were held every 5 years instead of 7

What did Irish Nationalist leader John Redmond agree to?

Irish Nationalist support, on condition that Home Rule was reintroduced

What did the Lords finally pass?

People's budget in April 1910 but held back on Parliament act

What were the Constitutional conferences?

A list of attempts when Liberal and Conservative politicians held a series of meetings to settle the Constitutional crisis

What did Asquith risk in December 1910?

Another general election which resulted in Irish and Labour holding the balance of power

What did Asquith do once the Lords introduced delay tactics after the passing of the Parliament act in the Commons in May 1911?

Asquith revealed he had created an agreement with King George V to create enough Liberal peers to swamp the Conservative peers in the Lords if they rejected the act

At what majority did the 1911 Parliament act become law?

A majority of 17 votes

What were further consequences of the Parliament act 1911?

- Irish Nationalists had given support, so the price was a Home Rule bill
- For Labour it removed the barrier to achieving their own legislative programme through democratically elected House of Commons

What was the 1906 general election a crucial milestone in?

Development of Labour Party

How had the Lib-Lab pact strengthened the position of the Labour Party?

The Liberals depended on Labour support for their own election success and

What did Labour look to the Liberals to address?

It's key concerns over working conditions, unemployment and the Taff vale decision

What did the Liberal government quickly pass?

Trade disputes act 1906, designed to help unions by reversing taff vale decision