The Impact of War on the Labour Party and the 1918 Constitution (Britain at War 1914-1918)(Britain 1900-1951)

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  • Created by: oanderton
  • Created on: 27-08-20 10:55

Summary - Impact of War on Labour

War had an immediate impact on the Labour Party

  • It divided the party, though this split was not bitter
  • There was a change in Labour leadership 
    • Henderson became leader
  • Labour increased its influence in government
    • Labour members joined government
  • The split within the party wasn't bitter
  • There were differences in opinions on war policy
  • It caused an increase in industrial disputes and shortages.
    • Which demanded a change in TUC voting 
  • Labour's socialist leanings made it a crutial negotiator of foreign policy.
    • Especially for peace with Russia
  •  Trade disputes & discontent with the wartime coalition caused the leadup to Labour's 1918 Constitution.
  • New organisation allowed Labour to appeal to a much wider electorate.
  • The coalition allowed labour to achieve ministerial/cabinet rank & experience.
  • Benefited from the big expanation of trade union membership during the war
  • Had increased its popular vote
  • Faced a divided liberal party, was united behind its new constitution
  • Split had been resolved by adopting a new progressive foreign policy which most could support
  • The war lead to radical movements in the Labour party which threatened to divide them, once again, and retract their popular appeal within Britain, as it made them look extreme.
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It divided the party

It divided the party; though this split was not bitter

  • The ILP opposed the war
  • MacDonald opposed the war
  • Henderson supported the war, and most the party supported him.

Henderson resigned 6th August

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Changed Labour's Leadership

  • 6 August: MacDonald resigned
    • Because the party had decided not to oppose the estimates giving the government money for war
  • Arthur Henderson now led the party
    • Making Labour a pro-war party
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Increased Influence Over Government

  • 1915: Henderson joined the government
    • Went against the wishes of the parliamentary party.
    • Had the backing of the party's national executive
  • Henderson was in the inner war cabinet
    • Increased Labour's influence over government
  • John Hodge was minister of labour, George Barnes was minister of pensions
    • Labour has influence in government
  • Henderson was sent to the new Russian state by Lloyd George
    • Returned urging negotiations for peace in the war
  • Henderson resigned August 1917
    • Had been excluded from the Cabinet
    • Colleagues decided to rebuke him
  • Labour did not leave the coalition
    • Barnes replaced Henderson
    • Another Labour minister was appointed
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The Party Split Was Not Bitter

  • Henderson sympathised with Macdonald's aims 
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Opinion on War Policy

  • 1916: Labour disapproved of conscription
    • But did not actively oppose it
  •  December 1916: Henderson supported Lloyd George
    • Went out of his way to promise public control of mines and railways and post war reconstruction
  • Within the party there were supporters and opposers
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Trade Unions & Industrial Relations

  • Increase in industrial disputes and shortages
    • Due to losses of the war
    • Divided movement more
  • January 1917: trade unions passed a motion at the annual Labour conference.
    • Proposed that election of the NEC should be the vote of the whole conference
    • Meant to prevent the influence of the ILP who opposed the war.
  • The old system where socialist societies got special rights and elected representatives to the committee separately ended
  • The trade union block vote predominated
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Importance in International Relations

The war increased the Labour party's importance in international relations.

  • February 1917: Russian revolution
    • Greeted enthusiastically by the socialist elements in the party.
  • Henderson was sent to the new Russian state by Lloyd George:
    • Returned urging negotiations for peace in the war.
  • Wanted to attend an international socialist congress in Stockholm
    • German socialists were expected to send delegates.
  • Planning a distinct Labour foreign policy
    • Meeting with the Fabian Sidney Webb
      • To disuss setting out a new domestic political programme for Labour
  • TUC endorsed a radical memorandum on war aims supported a League of Nations
  •  
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Leadup to 1918 Consititution

In 1917, it was clear that Henderson was moving away continuing the coaltion

  • Henderson resigned August 1917
    • Had been excluded from the Cabinet
    • Colleagues decided to rebuke him
  • Labour did not leave the coalition
    • Barnes replaced Henderson
    • Another Labour minister was appointed

There was a growing demand for independant Labour interests within the party and the Trade Unions...

  • Mining and rail unions agreed with the need for a specific labour policy.
  • TUC endorsed a radical memorandum on war aims supported a League of Nations
  • More co-operation between the unions and the socialist societies
  • Planning a distinct Labour foreign policy
    • Meeting with the Fabian Sidney Webb
      • To discuss setting out a new domestic political programme for Labour.
      • Sidney Webb would later, in 1918, draft Labour's Constitution
  • Mining and rail unions agreed with the need for a specific Labour policy
  • TUC endorsed a radical memorandum on war aims supported a League of Nations
  • More co-operation between the unions and the socialist societies

1918: Henderson produced a new constitution for the Labour party drafted by Sidney Webb

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Creation of 1918 Constitution

1918: Henderson produced a new constitution for the Labour party drafted by Sidney Webb

  • Adopted February 1918
  • This opened the party to individual members

Proposed...

  • Local parties were guaranteed 5 out of 21 seats on the NEC
  • Would nomiate candidates, conference as a whole would vote
  • Socialist societies lost their special representation
  • Votes were decided by the conference as a whole
    • The block vote of the unions ensured a moderate NEC
  • Aims of the party were distinctly socialist
  • June 1918: 'Labour and the New Social Order'
    • Set out distinctly socialist aims
  • The national minimum
    • Would promise full employment with minimum wage and maximum working hours of 48 hours
  • Democratic control of industry
    • Nationalisation
    • Democratic administration of industries
  • Revolution in national finance
    • Heavy taxation of the rich
      • To pay for social welfare and the costs of war
  • Surplus for the common good
    • Expanding education and cultural facilities
      • Using the surplus to be taken from the rich
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New Independance

The new independance that the 1918 Constitution had given to the Labour party meant that...

  • Local organisation improved
  • Their aims went further towards socialism than before
  • Many did not want to leave the coaltion that gave them a chance to be in government
  • Henderson and the NEC forced the issue
    • Labour left the coaltion
  • Labour were unsuccessful in the next election
    • Put up 361 candidates
      • Won 57 seats
        • Mostly trade union MPs
  • Macdonald and Henderson did not win seats
  • Leadership had to go to the inadequare Willie Adamson
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Short & Long Term Effects of War

Short Term:

 Labour did not seen to have gained much from the war

  • Election faliure 
    • Henderson & MacDonald lose their seats
    • Only 57/319 MPs elected
  • Lose their influence in government
    • Left coalition

Long Term:

  • New organisation would be able to appeal to a much extended electorate
    • Local organisation of the party helped to modify its image
    • Became an interest group of unions and left wing enthusiasts
    • Made it a more national party
  • Leaders had achieved ministerial/cabinet rank
    • Labour grew their experience in government
  • Benefited from the big expanation of trade union membership during the war
  • Had increased its popular vote
  • Faced a divided liberal party, was united behind its new constitution
  • Split had been resolved by adopting a new progressive foreign policy which most could support
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Rise of Radicalism & its Impacts

The rise of radicalism within the Labour and Trade Union movement during the war had negative impacts on the labour party...

  • War had thrown up a much more radical element of unionism.
    • Red Clydeside and the Shop Stewards' movements in Scotland.
  • War had threatened to divide the Labour movement
  • Many in the party and trade unions did not sympathise with the radicalism of the Scottish activists.
  • Clearly sympathised with the revolution in Russia
  • Threatened to make Labour seem too radical for British voters
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Overall Judgment

Overall, was as the impact of the war on the Labour party positive or negative?

Positive.

  • Lead to 1918 Constitution
    • Allowed new, local organisation
    • Block vote of the TUC allowed the party to be more moderate and have wider appeal.
    • Gave the divided party something to unite under
  • Increased Labour's popularity
  • Gave Labour ministeral/cabinet rank & experience
  • Made Labour a huge player in new foreign policy negotioations, which the split party could unite behind.
  • Splits within the party could heal under united foreign policy and newly reinforced socialist aims in the 1918 constitution.
  • Increased Labour's appeal within the electorate
  • Caused disputes & shortages with trade unions, which caused big expansions in trade union numbers, thus support for the labour party

Limitations of this argument

  • Extremism grew due to the war; threatened Labour's appeal as it posioned their moderate image & threatened to make them seem too extreme for British voters.
  • Short term election faliure; won only 57 seats in 1918, most being from trade union MPs.
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