Why had the Labour Party replaced the Liberal Party as the 'second party' in British politics by 1929?

Question 1

Popularity of Labour Party Ideology- organisation

Answer 1

Labour emerged united from war, new constitution (Feb 1918) following Henderson’s resignation in 1917 (Stockholm conference) made party cohesive.
War also gave ministers experience in government.

Question 2

Popularity of Labour Party Ideology- constitution features

Answer 2

Commitment to redistribution of wealth via taxation, support for trade unions + commitment to nationalisation of industry (Clause IV).
Labour became the new reformist party with genuinely socialist policies. Appealed to W-C and replaced Liberals.

Question 3

Liberal Party’s Post-War Mistakes- Political

Answer 3

Continuation of the constitution was unpopular- betrayal of Liberal values. 1918- LG Libs, 133 seats, 32.6% vote. Cons, 335 seats, 32.6% vote.
LG a ‘prisoner of the Conservatives’

Question 4

Labour Party’s Post-War Mistakes- LG

Answer 4

1922- LG in ‘cash for honours’ scandal, sold over 100 peerages and 1500 knighthoods for funds
Also, 1922 ‘Chanak Dispute’ on Greek-Turkish border, LG sent troops, seen as heavy handed + ‘sabre rattling’
Personal popularity at a low, LG Libs win 62 seats, Asquith Libs win 54 seats

Question 5

Impact of Representation of the People Act (ROPA)

Answer 5

Trebled the electorate, 7 million 1910- 21.4 million 1918 + change in demographic- 43% women, 80% working class (men>21, p.owning women>30)

Question 6

Consequence of ROPA reform to electorate

Answer 6

Lab- new working class support, 1918 election, 7% to 22% of vote (proportional to electorate inc), 1929 election, 37% of vote
Cons- 1.6 million w.c voters + p.owning women

Question 7

Impact of electoral system (FPTP)

Answer 7

Favours two-party contests. Constituency basis, Lib support spread out, Lab conc. in urban areas, Cons in rural areas.
1918, average 15,943 votes for Cons MP, 29,868 for Lab MP, 36,116 for Lib MP
1923, Libs-29.6% of vote, 159 seats (25%), Cons-38.1% of vote, 258 seats (40%), Lab-30.5% of vote, 191 seats (30%)

Question 8

Impact of FPTP (growing divisions)

Answer 8

Throughout 1920s, ‘class alignment’, w.c voters gravitate to Labour, m+u.c voters rallied around Conservatives.
Liberals became ‘third-party’