chapter 5 British Domestic politics 1929-39
- Created by: loupardoe
- Created on: 25-06-18 14:37
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how successful was Labour's domestic policy in 1929-31?
the situation in 1929
- MacDonald faced serious problems, did not have complete freedom of action
- labour was a minority government
- had a majority of 27 over the conservatives
- 59 liberals held the balance of power
- even if he had wanted to pursue radical policies, this would have been difficult
- the HoL could no longer completely prevent legislation from being passed, but could still obstruct and delay measures
- conservatives had a majority in the HoL
- few labour peers
- economic situation was not strong
- unemployment- 1.2 million
- concentrated in areas of Britain's heavy industry which had not recovered from the decline in exports after WW1
- issue had been prominent in the election campaign in 1929
- calls in the labour party and by the liberals for imaginative acts to reduce unemployment and promote economic growth
- MacDonald had moved away from distinctive socialist policies
- party was committed to free trade
- leadership was concerned to show that Labour was a moderate party of government for all the people and deserved the confidence of the banks and financial institutions
- any solutions to unemployment that involved raising taxes or irresponsible borrowing to create jobs would threaten confidence in Britain
- it was important that Labour should not weaken international confidence in the pound as the earnings from invisible exports were so high and they depended on the pound being a rock solid international currency
- largely unsympathetic press
- civil service was likely to raise objection to any radical measures
- it was unlikely that Labour would offer any substantial domestic change
- MacDonald showed himself to be more interested in foreign and imperial matters than in domestic policy- much less restrained by his party's lack of an overall majority
- discussions on the future of India involved much cross party agreement
- foreign policy did not become a strong party issue- MacDonald and foreign secretary Henderson struggled with the international repercussions of the international slump
the labour ministers
- Arthur Henderson- foreign secretary
- J.H.Thomas- Lord Privy Seal, minister responsible for unemployment
- both were from a moderate trade union background
- Philip Snowden- chancellor, entered political life through the ILP, conservative in outlook, committed to a financial policy which maintained a balanced budget and would be acceptable to Britain's important financial sector
- John Clynes- home secretary, veteran
- Sidney Webb- former fabian, Baron Passfield, colonial secretary
- left wing of the party was not strongly represented
- Oswald Mosley- more radical and energetic, assisted Thomas
- first female Cabinet minister- Margaret Bondfield
- not a radical cabinet
domestic measures 1929-31
- domestic policy inhibited by growing economic problems
- declining trade reduced revenue and the money available for reforms and improvements
- legislative record was limited
- there were some achievements
- Housing Act 1930- passed by Arthur Greenwood, restored the subsidies for local authorities to build houses that had been given in Wheatley's Act, began subsidies for slum clearance
- slum areas of housing existed in most inner city areas, were generally old neglected unhealthy places to live
- many of the houses had originally been built for workers…
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