Decline of the Liberals during interwar years

Question 1

What was Representation of the People Act and what year was it passes?

Answer 1

It was a law that was passed in 1918 that gave women over 28 the right to vote + made sure that all men over 21 could vote

Question 2

Who was David Loyd George?

Answer 2

• Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister during WW1

- Began causing divisions in Lib party during WW1 and continued in years after

Question 3

What is a grass-roots organisation?

Answer 3

• Something that begins with popular participation by lots of people
• A trade union is an example of this. A union of workers to give them strength against their bosses

Question 4

What were the 5 main reasons that the Liberal Party declined after 1918?

Answer 4

• WW1 impacted on unity (turning point)
• Representation of the People Act 1918
• Coupon Election 1918
• DLG’s mistakes

Question 5

Why was WW1’s impact on unity a cause of the decline of the Liberals?

Answer 5

• DORA - The party was split between DLG or Asquith Liberals as they fell out over conscription (DLG supported DORA but many (Asquith) liberals didn’t)
• Maurice debate - A general accused DLG of lying about
  the no. of troops on the Western Front
• Asquith miscalculation - Asquith tried getting rid of DLG with majority support from Liberal MPs but failed

Question 6

What was Defence of the Realm Act?

Answer 6

This act was implemented in 1914 and it gave the gov. extended powers e.g economic controls, conscription + rationing to avoid defeat

Question 7

What impact did the Rep. Of the People Act (ROPA) have on the decline of the Liberals?

Answer 7

• It extended the electorate by 13 mil people - included young working class men which made up majority (80%) of electorate (+ some women)
• It led to growing no. of working class voters - Libs failed to win them over
• Effectiveness of Labour Party (in adapting to new areas of electorate) - took votes away from Libs
• In 1910-1923 there was a…
  rise in Labour votes: 7.1% to 30.5%
  decline in Liberal votes: 43.9% to 29.6%

Question 8

Why shouldn’t the impact of the ROPA be overestimated as a cause?

Answer 8

• Working class voters did not increase to the extent where it could have led to such a decline in Lib. seats
• Libs failed to challenge development of 1st past the post system
• Therefore, it was only a contributing cause

Question 9

Why was the Coupon Election (1918) a crucial cause of the decline of the Liberals?

Answer 9

• Voters choosing between two Liberal Parties (DLG vs Asquith)
• DLG made coalition with Conservatives (Toris desperate for office + DLG was popular leader but didn’t have enough Libs supporting him)
• Any candidate who stood for election on behalf of their coalition was given a ‘coupon’ (letter confirming they stood for coalition)
• Coalition won by a landslide - toris dominant with 335 seats and DLG Libs with 133 seats (only 28 Asquith Libs won seats + Asquith lost his)
• Damaging effect it had on Libs

Question 10

Explain the damaging effect that the Coupon Election had on the Liberal Party

Answer 10

• Asquith’s leadership never recovered
• DLG Libs dependent on toris - Libs has a weak position in Parliament
• Split in party deepened - DLG rejected from a conference in 1920 by Asquith + his supporters
• DLG tried making coalition permanent - formed Centre Party but failed (divided Libs further)
• Therefore, the coupon election can be seen as another turning point for Lib decline

Question 11

How did Lloyd George’s mistakes exacerbate (worsen) the decline of the Liberals?

Answer 11

• Knighthood scandal 1922 - DLG accepted bribes for peerages + knighthoods which damaged his credibility + he was portrayed as corrupt
• Threatened Turkey over Chanak (seen as a warmonger)
• Toris withdrew from the coalition leaving DLG and his Liberals weak - toris won the next election with fairly large majority and Labour overtook DLG Libs (his Libs came 3rd)

Question 12

How did the failure of the Liberals in the 1922 election add to their decline as a political force?

Answer 12

• DLG’s unpopularity, Lib divisions + rise of Labour were significant reasons why they lost 1922 election
• In 1922-24, Libs lacked funds to run successful campaigns + not as many candidates as Labour + Toris
• Their vote fell by 12% in 1924 Gen. Election - Libs lost confidence of their traditional voter base as many turned to Toris
• After Asquith’s resignation, DLG reunited Libs in 1926
• DLG created a set of policies (The Yellow Book) in attempt to solve growing prob. of unemployment + investment in industry - never gained support of electorate + votes continued to fall throughout 1920s