The Baldwin Government 1924-29 Flashcards
The Samuel Report
March 1926, mine owners should press ahead with reorganisation and modernisation of their mines.
- they should not insist on longer hours.
- should not reduce wages
- until the crisis passes, miners should accept a temporary wage cut
- > Mix of tory policy and beginning of state mining regulation, not laisses faire. It is symbolic of conservatives changing policy
Consequence of the Samuel Report
the TV accept the report but continue to threaten strikes as they thought it would bring results (Marwick claims this is an example of Baldwin not showing leadership)
- mine owners announced that wages would be reduced on 30th April
- The Baldwin government did not enforce the findings, MacDonald purposely distanced the labour party from the miners (is this a key reason for its failure?)
- A strike began on May 3rd 1926
The strike of 1926
- almost 100% amongst core industries (textiles, road, rail, docks, printing, electricity, iron and steel)
- 3 million out on strike over 2 days
- aimed to paralyse the industry but most services continued.
- The strike lasted for 9 days.
- the strikers made their aims clear that they wanted constitutional change and they were not violent or socialists.
Key figures response to the strike 1926
BALDWIN- appealed to people to trust him, did a series of radio broadcasts.
CHURCHILL- felt the strike must be crushed, advocated to freeze all trade union assets, put in charge of governments emergency newspaper and described Britain as being in a ‘state of war’, advocated for the use of troops (as he had done in Llanelli 1911)
JOYNSON-HICKS- felt the strike was part of a communist revolution.
Baldwin’s handling of the strike 1926
Roberts believes Baldwin was clever as he chose people to speak out about the strike and allowed extremism (Churchill)
- Wilson argues that Baldwin gave too much power over to the extremists in his government- he was lucky that more violence didn’t break out in reaction to them. He also argues that labours decision not to openly back the strikers meant it failed.
- Baldwin knew the TUC was not ready for a strike. The government policy of putting in place its pre-devised emergency plan did have a large effect. Volunteers kept things going.
What was the impact of the strike?
(1) the strike was defeated and along with it the trade unions attempt to change the British system from the bottom up by using economic means by mass street action.
(2) The labour movement learnt from the strike and increased adopted parliamentary means to achieve their aims
(3) It represented a defeat of the labour movement which was short term. Conservative policy ultimately became more centrist and British’s politics still shuffled to the left.
Tory democracy
‘attach the self-interest of millions of contributors to the wellbeing of the capitalist system’
- 25 bills drawn up from 1924-29. 21 became law
- 1925 old age pensions act- in return for higher national insurance contributions, workers and wives received pensions of 10s per week at 65
- 1925 unemployment insurance benefit could be claimed not just for two 16 weeks periods but indefinitely providing the workers was ‘genuinely seeking work’
Creation of the BBC
1926 the BBC replaced the British Broadcasting Corporation from 1922. 1926 the CEB was set up to supply electricity via the national grid.
Representation of the people act 1928
gave votes to all women over 1921, male and females were equally franchised, electorate increased by 7 million.
Local government act 1929
this awarded local authorities extra duties concerning roads, public health, maternity and childcare
General election 1929
the 1927 trade disputes act had been designed to make another general strike impossible, Union funds could be seized during dispute and led to more people voting Labour.
- Tory’s were seen as being typical of the now dead aristocratic politics of the pre-war period.
- the government hadn’t combatted unemployment
- Labour won 288 Conservatives 260
