New Liberalism: What the House of Lords was like in 1906 4.0 / 5 based on 2 ratings ? HistoryModern Britain - 19th century onwardsASAQA Created by: Beth EvansCreated on: 21-01-13 12:44 Background Contained 591 members known as 'peers of the realm' 561 of which inherited their seats The remaining 30 were: 4 Law Lords, 2 Archbishops, 24 Bishops 2/3 of the peers were conservatives (rest were liberals) so had the majority New peers could be created by the sovereign on advice of Prime Minister In theory Lords and Commons should be equal Traditions developed that: All Bills dealing with finance and taxation started in the Commons The House of Lords didn't reject finance Bills 1 of 5 Causes of Disputes Lords could change Bills radically and prevent laws passing The House of Lords was permanently Conservative so rejected Liberal Bills Liberals were prevented from carrying out their policies: Democracy was denied The confrontation built up 1906: House of Lords rejected 2 of Campbell-Bannerman's most important Bills Education Bill and Plural Voting Bill (stop people voting more than once) Next year rejected 2 more and changed 2 so were worthless 1908: Rejected Licensing Bill although Edward VII said it was good as reducing public houses Balfour and Lord Lansdowne were making blatant use of the Lord's power to protect own interests: Balfour's Poodle Asquith disguised Old Age Pensions as finance allowing them to be passed 2 of 5 Causes of Disputes: Lloyd George's Budget 1909: Lords broke tradition as rejected Lloyd George's entire budget Designed to raise extra £15 million to pay for pensions, labour exchanges and Dreadnoughts Wealthy were to foot the Bill: Income tax from 1s to 1s2d in the pound on incomes over £3000 Supertax of 6d in pound for incomes over £5000 Higher taxes on tobacco and spirits; whiskey went from 3s6d to 4s Higher charges on liquor licences Taxes on petrol and cars Taxes on mining royalties 20% tax on increased value of land when resold 3 of 5 Causes of Disputes: Lloyd George's Budget Budget debated from April to November in Commons Conservatives formed Budget Protest League as claimed it was a deliberate attack on the wealthy, thought it was the beginning of socialism Duke of Beaufort: He would like to 'see Lloyd George and Churchill in the middle of twenty couple of foxhound' Lloyd George accused landlords of being selfish creatures: 'the stately consumption of wealth produced by others' November 1909: Budget passed with 379 to 149 however the Lords still rejected it, even though Edward VII was anxious to pass it Lord Landsdowne (Conservative leader) justified saying revolutionary should be put infront of public in a General Election Balfour: 'Lords were merely carrying out their proper function as watchdogs of the constitution' 4 of 5 Causes of Disputes: Lloyd George's Budget Suggested Lloyd George deliberately produced Budget to trap the Lords into rejecting This would allow the Liberals to restrict their powers It was cleverly framed to embarrass Conservatives: If didn't oppose = Landowners furious If did oppose = Shows selfishness 5 of 5
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