The First Labour Government

Question 1

Sydney Webb

Answer 1

Fabian
Key in moving the Labour Party towards a policy based around the concept of ‘the inevitability of gradualness’
Drafted the new constitution of the party 1918 (labour and the social order) which gave Labour a far more defined position.
Clause 4 ‘secure for the producers by hand or brain the full fruits of industry by the common ownership of the means of production’
-> nationalism becomes a key proponent of Labour policy

Question 2

Context of McDonald

Answer 2

Grew in the prespertarian church which has no hierarchy as there is no hierarchy in the eyes of God.
Wrote about India
Ideological position was against empire as a concept.

Question 3

What were McDonalds aims?

Answer 3

Make labour a respectable party
Bring progressives, socialists and the unions under labour
Moderation in 1924 as they ‘were in office but not in power’
Porter says that McDonald appointed cabinet ministers who were not suitable so to their posts on purpose so that the civil service had more say so lab seemed less extreme as a party

Question 4

Describe Labours parochialism

Answer 4

Under half the British industrial workforce were members of a trade union in 1920.
Most labour MPs had been put in power by unions
Therefore the support base was sectional/regional because of the attachment to trade unions

Question 5

Main Cabinet appointments in 1924 Labour Government

Answer 5

Arthur Henderson- Home secretary

Snowden- Chancellor of the exchequer

Question 6

foreign policy under Labour government of 1924

Answer 6

• India remained in lock down- Gandhi was not freed from prison as Labour delayed release.
• Middle East policy remained the same- RAF bombing was used against arab tribes
• Dawes Plan 1924

Question 7

Labour government 1924 policy towards Russia

Answer 7

• gave diplomatic recognition to Russia
• McDonald wanted a commercial treaty with the soviets which would lead to Russia receiving a £30 million loan.
• Barnett has argued that this move was controversial that had labour lasted, this could have brought down government.

Question 8

economic policy of the 1924 labour government

Answer 8

• Old age pensions were increased
• unemployment benefits were increased
• in the context it was good for what they had
• but compared to the liberals it was not left enough

Question 9

Wheatley Housing Act

Answer 9

1924

• the annual subsidy paid per property unit was raised to £9
• the annual payment to local councils was extended to 40years
• Wheatley enforced on local councils the idea that all subsides were to be used to build new homes for the poorest
• half a million homes built by 1933

Question 10

What brought about labours collapse after their first government

Answer 10

• spectre of bolshevism
• Campbell case
• Zinoviev letter

Question 11

campbell case

Answer 11

25 July 1924
Workers Weekly article by J.R. Campbell
revolutionary rhetoric used
-> 6 August announced HofC that attorney general Sir Hastings has advised the prosecution of Campbell under the Incitement to Mutiny Act 1797. but under pressure from labour back-benchers the gov withdrew charges.
- accused of being pro-soviet, being run by radicals Cons and Lib enabled a passing by 304 to 191 votes of a motion of no confidence

Question 12

Zinoviev letter

Answer 12

supposedly writtten by Zinoviev president of the comintern- suggested Lab party was linked to security agencies in Russia. Leaked in Daily Mail.