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

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.

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

• 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

• 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

• Henderson sympathised with Macdonald's aims 

• 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

• 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

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
•  

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

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

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

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

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

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.