the labour party

Question 1

summarise different names of labour

Answer 1

• 1900= LRC (labour representation committee)
• 1906= joined the ILP and in gov so renamed the “labour party”
• 1918= labour party constitution set and so start of the ‘official’ party

Question 2

what was the LRC

Answer 2

• loose knit group of random socialist factions who do not agree on many issues, unwilling to make changes however believe better to be united than opposition

Question 3

demands from workers and socialists

Answer 3

• trade uninion support- had 2 million members by 1900, becoming more radical and socialist.
• TU less political - mainly about wokrers pay and conditions
• majority of labour support was wc
• 1867 reform act- enabled more working class to vote after a property qualification, so increased the demand for representation within parliament.

Question 4

middle class support

Answer 4

• william morris and family led group discussions
• fabian society- left wing intellectuals campaigned through meetings
• eg sidney web, george bernard, hg wells.
  *

Question 5

why no labour party by 1899?

Answer 5

• little public support for socialist ideas or separate labour party
• ILP distrusted by fabians and SDF
• little interest from trade unions
• no electoral success

Question 6

why did a labour party begin to grow?

Answer 6

• problems with employers- new machinery lessened the need for skilled workers
• employers used ‘blackleg’ labour during strikes- so striking had no financial implications
• employers set up their own federations to resist demands from workers and strikes- so more conflict
• close relationship between TU and ILP- more ILP members invested in by TUC to get them into parliament
• LRC in 1900
• taff vale- viewed as undemocratic - only way to overturn this was through the law and so would mean workers needed representation within parliament to argue their case
• growth of LRC
• lib-lab pact- concerned not to split anti-conservative votes

Question 7

lib-lab pact

Answer 7

• by 1903, it is clear that the LRC are increasing their power and contesting more elections
• fear that those who had orginally been progressive so by default voted for liberals would now vote for labour
  *agreement not to split the progressive vote- not to contest a candidate that looked like they would win
• unofficial agreement
• 31/50 LRC candidates in 1906 were unopposed, 24 elected.
• liberals also benefit in areas such manchester etc as the labour party (which had far more sway over workers/unions) endorsed the liberals. seat was previously tory.

Question 8

did the lib-lab pact help?

Answer 8

• although many labour camdidates did not get elected, mcdonald saw the pact as more of a long-term solution to the labour party’s success- to help in elections in the 20’s and 30’s and so therefore it was a success for labou.
• labour needed to prove its legitimacy as a political party
• liberals- helped to get previously conservative seats.
• liberals- new liberalism not a solution to nullify the threat from the left so this was the best solution.

Question 9

how successful was the labour party ( 2 acts)

Answer 9

• the trades disputes act 1906
• the education (provision of meals) act 1906

Question 10

the trades disputes act 1906

Answer 10

• reversed taff vale decision of 1901
• ensured TU involved in strike action would be protected by law from being sued for damages
• when labour respinded a bill offering full immunity, Cambell Bannerman accepted this as it fitted with own views (liberals had proposed one year before)

Question 11

the education (provision of meals) act 1906

Answer 11

• private members bill
  proposing local education authorities use rate money to provide meals for needy children
• lib gov incorporated it into gov policy

Question 12

factors leading to labours decline in Parliament

Answer 12

• osborne judgement
• elections of 1910
• lack of commitment to socialism
• troubled relations with trade unions

Question 13

what was the osborne judgement

Answer 13

• made political contributions from TU illegal.
• contributions were part of the subscription paid by members of TU that allocated the support of Labour MP’s
• had to wait until 1913 to get the judgement reversed in another TU act.

Question 14

what happened in the elections of 1910

Answer 14

• 1906 elections- put up 78 candidates, increased MPs to 45
• dec 1910- put up 56 candidates, 42 MP’s
• by 1914 due to election losses, labour only had 36 MP’s

Question 15

why was the lack of commitment to socialism a problem?

Answer 15

• many labour supporterds disliked the alliance with the Liberals- wanted a more overtly socialist programme

Question 16

why was the relations with the TU a problem?

Answer 16

• militants turned to more direct action- wave of strikes from 1911-1914.
• amalgamation- triple alliance- transport workers, railway workers and miners to put pressure on emplpoyers and the gov
• labour seemed irrelevant to the union militants
• BUT miners union switched from Liberal to Labour in 1909- bug long term effect, controlled 90 seats.