Why Did the Labour Government Fall in October 1924? (British Politics 1918-1929)(British Period Study: Britain 1918-1951)(Britain 1900-1951)

Labour lost the 1924 election due to 2 scandals

• The Campbell Case
  • A Communist opposes the repression of strikers but urging troops not to support force against them and is sued by the attourney general. MacDonald throws out the case.
  • Makes Labour look sympathetic to Communists.
• The Zinoviev Letter
  • A forged letter, supposedly from a Russian Communist leader, Zinoviev, urging British Communists to support LAbour.
  • Lead public to associate Labour party with Communims & causes a red scare within Britain.

These 2 scandals made the 1924 election focus on the red scare & the opposition focused on Labour being Communist.

•  Trade treaties with USSR & Labour's Maifesto also became focal points of this campaign.

1934 election showed Labour would never be elected on a purely radical socialist programme.

• Red scare showed Communism would never appeal to the British public.

• Government only lasted from January to October 1924
• Record was impressive considering the limited time period

The Labour government fell because MacDonald mismanaged a relatively trivial incident - The Campbell Case.

• Labour government was unsympathetic to strikers and ordered troops against them.
• In July 1924, J.R.Campbell published a letter calling for troops to refuse to act against striking workers.
• Attorney general prosecuted for incitement to mutiny. Under an act of 1797.
• Labour left was very angry.
• In August, MacDonald withdrew the prosecution.
  • Due to pressures from backbenchers in Labour party.
• Liberals saw political influence being used in a matter of law.
  • Called for investigation
  • MacDonald decided to make it a matter of confidence
• Could have ignored the criticism

• Chose to make it clear that if the government was defeated then this would make it a vote of no confidence.
  • Showing he could no longer govern and would resign.
• Baldwin decided to support the Liberals
• Vote of Liberals and Conservatives brought the government down
• Relations between Labour and Liberals had been poor.
• Decision was seen by many as unfair

1924 election: characterised by wild talk of Labour's support for Communism.

• Zinoviev letter: a forged letter, supposedly from Zinoviev, a Russian Communist leader.
  • Urging British Communist party to support Labour.
• Caused a red scare in Britain.
• Voters convinced that a vote for Labour would mean a vote for Communism.
• Evidence for the suppose threat.
  • The Russian Treaty
  • Reference in Labour's manifesto to 'a socialist commonwealth'.

• Effects of Zinoviev letter have probably been exaggerated.
  • Labour did not lose votes.
  • Labour actually increased its popular vote.
  • Gained support for its idealistic foreign policy.
• Electorate decided that the choice was now between Labour and Conservatives.
• Losers in this election were the Liberals.