Labour Government 1929-31 Flashcards
Who were the main ministers?
Philip Snowden- Chancellor, Henderson - foreign secretary, John Caynes - home secretary
Why were there problems with the government?
It was a minority govt - relied on 57 liberals in commons, lords still controlled by tories
What did Arthur Greenwood do?
Restores subsidies for housing, in 1930 slum clearance schemes, would build 700k new houses
How did world trade change?
$68,640m to $26,600m
What did the Gregory and May committees suggest?
Cut unemployment insurance by 10%, needed to cut expenditure to balance budget
What was the Campbell crisis?
A left wing newspaper editor urged troops not to shoot at protestors, was illegal at time, called communist propaganda
How had unemployment changed from 1929 to 1931?
1.2 million, 1.9 million to 2.7 million
In 1930, what were exports like in comparison to the 1927 figures?
87.3%
What, with pardonable cynicism, was Macdonald’s cabinet nicknamed?
The government of the unburied dead
What did the Lords reject?
Rising school leaving age to 15, electoral reform feb 1931 - end plural voting, land utilisation bill - buy unused farm land
What was introduced in 1930?
Road traffic act - 5,000 deaths in 1926 alone, this put into effect findings of royal commission on transport - minister of transport was Herbert Morrison, unemployment insurance act
How had unemployment benefit changed from 1928 to 1931?
£12 million to £125 million
What was suggested to tackle the deficit any why was it rejected?
Thomas proposed a public works scheme- govt spend £40 million, Snowden said it was too much money, Mosley said the scheme was inefficient, Mosley Memorandum meant govt was still in deficit
What gave the govt some money in 1929?
Development loan and 1929 colonial acts gave govt £42 million, for public works at home and throughout empire
What did Snowden do in 1931?
Increased public work scheme from £70 million to £140 million, income tax increased to 22.5%
