Labour Movement and Party

Position of Labour and Trade Union Leaders

Little concept of a separate Labour Party at this time
Few working class men to enter parliament did so as Gladstonian Liberals
Regional trade councils encouraged the setting up of a national organisation for unions
A Trade Union Congress (TUC) met for the first time in 1868 in Manchester
Bring pressure on the government to give trade unions legal recognition
Union leaders were keen to cooperate with the Liberals and promote their members as hard working and respectable
The TUC became an annual event after its London meeting in 1871
It represented the trade union movement as a whole

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Latter half of the 19th century = Labour movement gained in strength
Movement grew out of the enormous political, social and economic changes as well as from the development of Trade Unionism
Signified the struggle of working people to achieve a common objective in creating a fairer, more just and more equal society
The Process of industrialisation brought many working men and women together for the first time
Factory floor was where opinions were exchanged and discusions took place on unacceptable working conditions, long hours and poor financial reward
Realised they could start to change and improve their conditions if they were well organised enough to negotiate with their employers
From the factory floor that working-class organisations started to emerge
Particularly in the form of trade unions

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Extension of the franchise to include the working classes = main focus of the trade union movement during 1860s and 1870s
Trade Union Political Activists helped to set up the Reform League in 1865
Put pressure on the governent for franchise reform
Reform Act of 1867 was a huge step towards the Labour movement gaining influence
Election that followed = still no working class candidates
No longer property qualification for MPs
This should have made it easier for working class to stand in parliament
Impossible in terms of time and money
Ballot Act had increase confidence
Extension of the Franchise in 1884 to unskilled workers
Strengthened the political status of the working classes
Became more important for Cons and Libs to seek support
No longer afford to displease the large working class electorate
Stimulated the development of the Labour movement to form a political party

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