How strong was the Liberal Party by 1914?

How strong was the Liberal Party by 1914?

The Threat of Labour: 

• 40% of working class disenfranchised
• Liberals didn't appeal to working class as much as Labour 
• Trade union support for Labour 
• Reforms introduced by Libs didn't go far enough in working class eyes
• Osborne judgment not reversed quickly enough by government 
• Worker's wages rose little 1906-14
• Labour MP's- 1902=2 and 1910=42
• LRC successes 
• Miners switch support from Liberal to Labour 
• Labour making good municipal progress
• Liberal MP's- 1906=402 and 1910= 272
• Keith Laybourn-Liberals found it hard to contain Labour 
• Local elections more informative of Labour's threat, national situation not representative.

Effects of the Constitutional Crisis: 

• Considered a victory for the Liberals
• Establishes the supremacy of the HOC's over the HOL's. 
• The Lords lose the power to Veto 
• The governmnet could now bring in more radical reforms

Problems…