Changing party fortunes (1918-31)

Who was charge

Baldwin 1923-24

MacDonald (Labour) Jan 1924 - Nov 1924

Bonar Law (Tory) 1922-23

Baldwin (Tory) - 1924-29

DLG (Liberal) 1918-22

MacDonald (Labour) 1929-31

Liberals decline

Confusion about leader

Gallipoli campaign (1915)

Asquith personality

Taxes for social reforms

For an important meeting he dressed for golf and was keen to leave

Was indecisive when in control of the war office and military strategy

Causing dismay in a meeting during WWI because it was at 8am

Asquith continued to be leader of the Liberal party

People were confused on who they were voting for

Asquith was forced to resign in 1916 and DLG became PM until 1922

Many voted for the 'Liberal Party' whereas others voted for DLG's Coalition

Caused a shortage of ammo and government collapsed

Liberal government misjudged the campaign and were heavily beaten

Rich were not happy with the tax rate of 30% in 1918

As poor people could not afford this, they could not vote for this so the rich did not want their tax rates to increase

Liberal's wanted to implement free school meals (1906) Labour exchange (1909) which would be funded through taxes

Rise of Labour (1924)

80% were working class

War led to a growth of trade union membership which funded Labour through membership fees

Labour was able to represent a sense of working-class identity which won supporters from the Liberals

Labour remained united, showing stability

MacDonald ruled with economic caution and impressed everyone with his foreign affairs

Bonar Law dies and Baldwin loses vote of confidence

Labour would lose the 1924 election as the Zinovivev letter caused a red scare which suggested Labour was working with the Russians to take over with a communist revolution

Baldwin's Britain

Attracted wealthy and middle-class Liberals as the best defence against Labour socialism

1921 Irish Free State gained independence from the UK, Liberals lost 80 MPs where as Tories still had support

Adopted protectionism making foreign goods expensive

First past the post benefited conservatives as they needed 15,000 votes for 1 MP compared to Labour who needed 29,000

Until 1948 people at uni could vote both at home and in their uni city, Oxbridge and City of London were allowed 14 MPs

Baldwin removed Liberal's free trade which was opposed by many landowners

Baldwin appealed to working classes by running factories fairly and enforced regulations

1929 election

Tories classed as dull 'safety first' identical policies

First election where women could vote equally

Hung parliament as Labour gained support due to mass unemployment following the 1926 General Strike

Aftermath of 1929 election

Labour did not want to cut spending due to financial crisis but MacDonald did it anyway

Wall Street Crash caused massive depression across Britain