The Conservative Government 1924-1929
- Created by: lyd_kate
- Created on: 13-09-17 12:35
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- Conservative Government 1924-1929
- Leadership of Baldwin
- Included critics (e.g. Churchill) in Government and did not follow end to free trade policy (which was very unpopular, a good decision)
- Chamberlain brothers - A (Foreign secretary) N (health minister) ensured powerful support). Good at new medium of broadcasting - middle class vote)
- United and Moderate
- Social reform with peaceful foreign policies
- Respect for opposition to socialism standing up to Gen Strike and Communist Russia
- Orthodox finance policy, but did little about unemployment.
- Defence spending reduced foreign policy options, led to appeasement
- Neville Chamberlain
- Minister of health. Would have been easy to ignore social reform, had a parliamentary majority. Cons not interested in health
- Passed four years of change plan in Nov 1924 - passed 22 acts including food hygiene
- Widows, orphans and children act gave pension rights to widows etc. of insured working men for an additional 2d payment
- People also paid insurance until 65, extending 1911 act.
- Councils were were given grants based on size, wider powers to control services. Assistance given by public committees. No more workhouses. 1929 passed.
- Derating of land/buildings reduced costs encouraged more workers had little impact
- Labour opposed changes as this stopped generous local authorities giving more. Poplarism, when Polar raised rates to help poor without permission
- Churchill as Chancellor
- Political, to prevent him to criticise the Govt. Not much financial knowledge
- Returned to gold standard (had been the case before 1914) - British exports more expensive, manufacturing further decline
- Had been recommended by experts, financial sector seen as more valuable than manufacturing (1m on poor relief)
- Would've had to renew act in 1925 anyway, revealing loss of confidence in British economy for foreign investors.
- Tried to reduce debt and spending
- Austen Chamberlain
- Refused to accept Geneva protocol as foreign secretary. Supported league in a general way
- Locarno pact 1925, non aggression of Belgium, France, Germany guaranteed by Brit & Italy. Guaranteed Germany's western borders but lost Poland, no union with Austria
- Agreed to 1928 Kellogg-Briand - 65 countries outlawed war to satisfy France. Relations and trade deals with Russia over.
- Dominions wouldn't guarantee enforcement of Locarno, became self governing but had a common monarch
- Clear Germany still wanted land after Ruhr crisis and Locarno, but focus was on peace and it would be hard to keep strict controls of Germany
- Leadership of Baldwin
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