Britain 1906-1951

Why was this Election Called?

• The Conservatives had been in power for since 1900 and by 1905 were facing much criticism.
• The Criticism was coming from a various things which had occurred during the Con. time in office.
  
• The Conservative Prime Minister (A.J Balfour) as a result decided to resign his party from Government and the Liberals stepped into power under the leadership of Campbell-Bannerman.
• The Liberals then decided to call a General Election in January 1906.

Who won and why?

• The Liberals won a large overall majority. 400 seats for Libs. and 157 for Cons.
• Conservatives had dropped from 402 (1900) to (157).
• Labour had also risen its number of seats from 2 (1900) to 29.
• REASONS FOR THE LANDSLIDE VICTORY: (occurred in 1906 for Lib and 1945 for Labour)
• Liberals had appeared demoralised and divided over Irish Home Rule... Cons. had won two general elections (1900-1902 and 1902-1906)

The Boer War

--> 1899-1902- took place in South A. against the Dutch settlers living in Transvaal and Orange Free State. The British had had a victory and the Cons. prematurely exploited this victory and the Liberal divisions over the war by winning the 'Khaki Election' in 1900.

---> The Boer War revealed the effect of poverty in the cities as soldiers were unfit and unhealthy, making them unsuitable in combat. The Liberals won support from this as a result by pointing out that the Cons. had failed to acknowledge this.

--->The War enabled Joseph Chamberlain to push his campaign for Tariff Reform. This issue greatly split the Cons.

The 1902 Education Act

• Aroused the fury of many Non-conformists and led them to revert to the Liberals.
• Before 1902 Religious schools had been funded by their churches; however, the 1902 act provided funding for all Anglican and Catholic schools at local rates.
• Great campaign against this. Some Non-C's refused to pay their taxes in Wales.
• Lloyd George led an orchestrated campaign in Wales and persuaded Welsh to show their disapproval of this Cons. policy by voting Liberals in Welsh 1904 election

The 1904 Licensing Act

• Again, this angered the Non- C's.
• The act limited the number of pubs but proposed to compensate brewers and publicans for the cancellation of licenses.
• Brewers supported Cons. = nicknamed the 'Brewers' Bill'
• Non-C's had always voted Lib but switched after Home Rule, but were now reverting back.
• By-elections show that Lib support increased after the disagreements of these acts.
• The campaigns helped re-unite Liberals and laid basis for 1906 success.

The Chinese Labour Issue

• A.k.a 'Chinese Slavery'
• A scandal that damaged the Cons. - Non C's and Trade Unionists upset
• Chinese laborers sent to South A to work for very long hours and very low wages.
• Moral outcry from Non-C's
• Trade Unionists worried that they may be brought into Britain to work cheaply.
• unemployment was high in 1905 therefore this opposition took Cons. votes away.

The Taff Vale Case

• Loss of support due to failure to Taff Vale Court Case.
• In 1901, disputes between Taff vale Railway Company and the Trade Unions in Wales led to strike action.
• The company sued the unions and demanded re-compensation.
• The House of Lords ruled that the company had the right to sue a trade union.
• This upset the unions as it made any striking almost impossible.
• This resulted in trade unions campaigning against the Cons. and promoting Labour.

Neglect of Social Reform

• 1906 Election was not fought on reform.
• However, the idea of poverty and reform was in the air at this time adn the Boer War had exposed some horrendous cases of malnutrition and poverty, especially in the cities.
• The newly organised LRC had started to develop ideas of Reform and the Liberals were also working out a new form of Liberalism.
• The Cons. had done nothing (exc. Balfour Education Act of 1902) during their period in office.

Tariff Reform Campaign

• Joseph Chamberlain campaigned for Tariff Reform.
• He proposed to lower the level tariff for countries in the British Empire, which resulted in a policy called Imperial Protectionism ---> stronger position in the world, protect British jobs and help pay for social reforms.
• Damaged the Conservatives. WC and MC feared that tariffs would increase the 'bread and butter' issue and increase the price of food.
• Churchill voted Liberal on this case in 1904.
• Re-united Liberals on the belief of Free Trade.

Conservative Leadership

• Balfour- Lord Salibury's nephew.
• Poor speaker and did not help the Cons. campaign.
• Not sensitive to public opinion- miscalculated the reaction of the working class.
• Indirectly responsible for the timing of the 1906 election.
• Allowed Chamberlain to make tariff reform a key Unionist party form 1903 onwards.

Attractions the Liberal Party

• Reunited by 1905.
• Divided by Home Rule but united by Boer War and Free Trade.
• 'Broad' party promoted by CB- not dominated by any one issue.
• Exploited Cons. weaknesses.
• Promised Welsh disestablishment (removal of the power of the Anglican Church)