stanley Baldwin

Question 1

strengths of Stanley Baldwin

Answer 1

-1924 election: won a resounding >200 majoirty
-chruchill chancellor = keep party united
-planned ahead to overcome general strike
-seen as power behind throne of national government between 1931-35
-churchill called Baldwin ‘formidable’
-1935 election over 250
-effective radio performer in run up to 1935 election
-calimed to understand working man better than labour
-safe choice

Question 2

Baldwin abdication crisis

Answer 2

-baldwin stood up to king and threatened resignation
-forced king to choose between monarchy and marriage and avoided constitutional crisis
-times said ‘in handling a great national problem… he has no comparable rival’

Question 3

criticisms of baldwin

Answer 3

-been depicted as lazy: AJP Taylor said there was to be no protection, no class war, if possible to be nothing at all
-abdication crisis: King Edward stepping down rather than baldwin
-lucky to survive after two labour governments
-safety first campaign in 1929 = uninspiring and complacent
-lucky to be leading party at all, absence of skilled politicians and some controversial figures: Lord Carson and Austen Chamberlain