The First Labour Government

The First Labour Government

Labour's Aims

• Although the aims of Labour were set out in the 1918 constitution, they didn't have a national appeal 
• MacDonald wanted to establish that Labour could tackle important foreign and domestic issues
• He wanted to end ill relations between Germany and France and support the LON
• Aimed to return to the pre war reforms and deal with problems like housing shortage
• Proposed a reduction in duties on imports to reduce unemployment
• Politically he wanted to resist the left wing of the party

Labour's Foreign Policy Achievements

• MD attended LON meetings and supported the Geneva Protocol 
• He was influential in the formation of the Dawes plan which helped to ease the tension between France and Germany

The Conservatives eventually repudiated the geneva protocol and the league was only able to enforce its decisions by sanctions which proved ineffective. The Dawes plan didn't survive the economic crisis in Germany and few reparations were paid. However they showed Labour could take the lead in international affairs. He agreed to a trade treaty with the USSR who had been an outcast in Europe. This was criticised by the Liberals and Conservatives.

Achievements in Britain

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