The influence of the Labour party and the 1918 constitution Flashcards
When did the Labour party nearly split, and why?
1914, over whether it should support the war
What did the party believe in and what were they opposed to?
Believed in the international cooperation of the working class, and was opposed to war and militarism
Who refused to support the war, and what happened to them?
Ramsay Macdonald, mercilessly criticised in the press.
Who became the first-ever Labour politician to be given a place in the cabinet and when.
Arthur Henderson, 1916
As part of the coalition, what was the Labour party able to have an influence on?
social policy
What did the Labour party push for and force? (4)
- forced the government to pass legislation that fixed wartime rents at pre-war levels
- pushed for ‘fair play’
- controls on profiteering and unrestricted market forces
- high taxation of war profits
When were price controls introduced and why?
1917, to help stabilise food prices
When was excess profits duty introduced?
1915
Why did the Labour party end its wartime co-operation with Lloyd George?
Arthur Henderson was refused permission to attend a conference in Stockholm
When did Henderson resign from the cabinet?
August 1917
What did trade union membership reach during and immediately after the war?
8 million
When did the Labour party adopt a new constitution?
1918
What were the main principles of the new Labour constitution? (5)
- The party was to be composed of various affiliated groups (trade unions, socialist societies, trade councils etc)
- An executive of 23 members would manage the party, elected at the annual party conference
- The ‘means of production, distribution and exchange’ was to be nationalised (known as Clause IV)
- Surplus wealth would be redistributed e.g. by taxation
- Trade unions would have more power and the Labour party would co-operate with them to formulate policy.
When did the Labour ministers resign?
As soon as the armistice was announced (Nov 1918)
