Labour

Question 1

What were the aims of labour in 1906?

Answer 1

1. Care of malnourished children
2. Help for the aged poor
3. Slum clearance, better housing
4. Representation of Labour in the H of C
5. Decrease tariffs, taxation + cost of war
6. Adress poverty gap
7. Freedom of trade unions eg. Taff Vale

Question 2

What were the issues of labour aims in 1906?

Answer 2

They didn’t have a clear set of policies. It was a manifesto -> concerns, not solutions.

Question 3

What groups did the Labour party consist of?

Answer 3

Trade unions and socialism -> LRC -> Labour party

Question 4

What made the Liberals and Labours similar?

Answer 4

1. Both wanted free trade
2. Supported a minimum wage
   -> Libs intro. this for a number of low-paid workers 1909 Trade Boards Act + miners after national strike 1912
3. Reversal of Taff Vale Decision
   -> Lib gov. accepted a Lab MP proposal
   1906 Trade Disputes Act

Question 5

Outline the Lib-Lab pact

Answer 5

1903 - in thirty constituencies, the Labour Party and the Liberal Party would not stand against each other, and thus risk splitting their vote.

Question 6

What were the differences between the Liberals and Labour?

Answer 6

1. Lab wanted 8 hour days but Libs only supported in coal mines (1908) but nowhere else
2. Lab wanted nationalisation of mines + railways
3. Most Liberal MPs = anti-womens suffrage

Question 7

What were the strengths of the Labour party 1906-14?

Answer 7

1906 - Labour had 30 MPs who represented the WC b/c they were all in industry and had no background uni degree
1908 - Miners federation of GB joined labour
1910 - 50% of TUC were affiliated with labour = finance
1913 - TU act got funds from TU’s which increased no. of councillors by 100

Question 8

What were the weaknesses of the Labour party 1906-14?

Answer 8

1. Division in aims
   eg. most wanted a min. wage to be negotiated
2. Libs fulfilled goals for them
   eg. Lib reforms
3. Decrease of MP’s in the 1910 elections
4. Losing by-elections

Question 9

Why could Labour take credit for Liberal reforms?

Answer 9

1. Provision of meals was introduced by a Labour MP
2. The repeal of Taff Vale was also proposed by a Labour MP
3. TU act + 1906 Trade Disputes Act

Question 10

Why couldn’t Labour take credit for Liberal reforms?

Answer 10

1. Repeal TV + TU act + Trade Disputes Act all already on the Lib. agenda
2. Even cons. agreed nation needed royal commission set up
3. Ed.Act 1906 - Balfour already considered