1929-31: the Labour Government Flashcards
why did the second labour government start out with high hopes in 1929
the liberals had become marginalised and labour now clearly a major player in britains 2 party system
what did MacDonald believe labour now had the chance to do
remove any doubts in the minds of voters as to the credibility of labour as a respectable party of gov
what was MacDonalds optimism boosted by
the dip in unemployment figures
who did MacDonald invite as Britains first female cabinet minister
Margaret Bondfield
Domestic policies: when was the housing act introduced
1930
Domestic policies: who was the housing act introduced by
Arthur Greenwood
Domestic policies: what did housing act increase/introduce
increased subsidies for house building
introduced new slum clearance schemes
Domestic policies: when was coal mines act introduced
1930
Domestic policies: what did coal mines act attempt to reduce
bitterness caused by General Strike
Domestic policies: how did coal mines act aim to reduce bitterness caused by general strike
by reducing miners working hours from 8-7.5 hour shifts
Domestic policies: when was the land utilisation and agricultural marketing act introduced
1931
Domestic policies: what did the land utilisation and agricultural marketing act establish
a series of marketing boards to help producers
Domestic policies: what did marketing boards (land utilisation and agricultural marketing act) have power to do
fix prices and arrange supplies more efficiently
Domestic policies: when was London transport bill introduced
1931 but didn’t become law until 1933
Domestic policies: who was London transport bill introduced by
Herbert Morrison
Domestic policies: what did London transport bill create
a public corporation responsible for providing cheap and efficient public transport for london
Domestic policies: what benefits were increased
unemployment benefits
Domestic policies: why did several attempts at reform fail
through lack of liberal support
Domestic policies: which attempts at reform failed through lack of liberal support
- education bill that aimed at raising school leaving age to 15
- bill to create a maximum working week of 48h
- plans to repeal 1927 TU act
Domestic policies: how was Britain affected by wall street crash
loss of American markets and reduction in European trade as other nations suffered
Domestic policies: how much did the value of british exports fall by between end of 1929-1931
half
Domestic policies: unemployment rate 1931 and 1932
1931- 2.5 million
1932- 3 million
Response to economic crisis: what was MacDonalds economic expertise like
he was no economist and had little idea of how to tackle unemployment
Response to economic crisis: what did MacDonald set up in 1930
Economic Advisory Council
Response to economic crisis: why did macdonald set up economic advisory council in 1930
consisted of economists and industrialists to provide advice but remained wary of new ideas
Response to economic crisis: why did unemployment put a strain on gov finances
more unemployment meant more unemployment benefits
Response to economic crisis: what did allowing huge sums of money to disappear in benefits undermine MacDonalds belief in
a balanced budget and appeared irresponsible at a time when party wanted to be viewed as capable and trustworthy, despite welfare of working man being integral to party’s belief’s
Response to economic crisis: what did Philip snowden accept were fundamental principles
a balanced budget and maintaining the gold standard
Response to economic crisis: who was phillip snowden
chancellor of exchequer
Response to economic crisis: what would balancing budget involve and what did this mean
would involve retrenchment which would mean reducing expenditure on welfare
Response to economic crisis: what did mosley call for
an expansionary government spending policy, financing public works schemes and social reforms
Response to economic crisis: how did MacDonald react to Moseleys ideas
he wasn’t convinced theyd work and fearful that such radical measures would undermine confidence in british gov overseas and create more unemployment
Response to economic crisis: why did Mosley resign in may 1930
when his mosley memorandum was rejected
Response to economic crisis: what could even the cabinet not agree on after mosley resigned
the size of the cuts needed to balance the budget
Response to economic crisis: why was it essential for labour to win over the opposition party leaders
their support was essential for any measure to pass through the commons
Response to economic crisis: why did the liberals propose a committee in may 1931
in response to baking crisis
to consider how gov might curb its expenditure and restore confidence
Response to economic crisis: who was the may committee chaired by
sir George may
Response to economic crisis: when was the may committees report published
31 july 1931
Response to economic crisis: what did the may report predict
a massive budget deficit of £120 million by 1932 unless severe cuts were made in gov spending
Response to economic crisis: what did the may report recommend cuts amounting to
£96.5 million with pay cuts for public sector employees and a 20% cut in unemployment benefit and heavier taxation
Response to economic crisis: did the two labour members of the may committee agree with the may reports proposals
no, they produced their own minority report, but were ignored
Response to economic crisis: what did the may report deepen
the financial crisis still further by drawing attenting to britains alleged problems
Response to economic crisis: who did the may recommendations cause an outcry from
many labour party members and trade unionists
Response to economic crisis: what did dissenting labour party members and trade unionists want the government to do
tax the rich more heavily rather than cutting gov spending at the expense of the unemployed
Response to economic crisis: why did some believe the economic crisis would be a good thing
if capitalism collapsed, the way would be clearer for socialism
Response to economic crisis: what did macdonald personally favour
taxation increases, but felt compelled to follow may report because other parties wouldn’t agree to these
Response to economic crisis: who met on the 12 august to consider what to do
the cabinet economy committee, including MacD, Henderson, Thomas and snowden
Response to economic crisis: what did the cabinet economy committee agree ti cuts amounting to on the 19th august
£56 million
Response to economic crisis: why did leaders of other parties reject cuts of £56 million
too small
Response to economic crisis: what did tuc leaders reject at their meeting with macdonald and snowden
any cuts that would affect the unemployed
may committees proposals entirely
Response to economic crisis: what vote did the cabinet come to on sunday 23 august
vote of approval to substantial cuts in unemployment benefits but only by 11-9 vots
Response to economic crisis: why did MacD go to Buckingham palace on 24 august
to tender his govs resignation to king George v
the reasons for the NG: why was it agreed macdonald would continue as pm despite his resignation
king spoke to Samuel (liberals) and Baldwin (conservatives) and it was agreed macondald would be head of new ng based on support from all main political parties
the reasons for the NG: how was the NG viewed at the time
temporary measure
gov of persons not parties
the reasons for the NG: what advantages did conservatives and liberals see in macdonald continuing as pm
drastic economic cuts and generally unpopular measures taken at time
the reasons for the NG: which 3 members of labour cabinet chose to follow mcd into ng
Snowden, Thomas and lord sankey
the reasons for the NG: what did many labour mps, party members and trade unionists accused MacDonald of after events of 1931
treachery in abandoning cause of working man and only thinking of own career ambitions in accepting leadership of ng and thus becoming ‘saviour’ of country
the reasons for the NG: why did many argue that macdonald needlessly set up the may committee
could’ve relied on economic advisory council he set up himself
not brave enough to consider new ideas and ignored the imaginative schemes put forward by mosley
the reasons for the NG: why was macdonald accused of being slow to respond to crisis
he allowed it to get worse
the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald fail to appreciate
the depth of feeling within the labour party over the unemployment benefit cuts
too ready to ignore unions and advice of own cabinet ministers
the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald fail to do when the party split became obvious
take honourable course and resign
instead aligned himself with conservatives- ultimate act of betrayal
the reasons for the NG: what did macdonald call an election in 1931 despite
promised not to do so
timing of election caused electoral disaster for labour
the reasons for the NG: what did later labour leader Attlee say about macdonalds action
‘greatest act of political betrayal of this country’
