Growth of the Labour Party

How did Labour become a strong party during World War I

Outbreak of war

• Divisions formed within party
• Conservatives and Irish Nationals fully supported war effort behind Liberals
• Patriotic members – wanted to join in war effort
• Moderate group – some support only when not effecting working class
• Radical group – totally opposed as believed imperialist conspiracy
• Many within Labour held pacifists views
• War morally wrong and could not be supported
• Ramsay MacDonald resigns as could not support war, form Union of Democratic Control
• Arthur Henderson becomes leader

Failure of Liberals during war

• Failed to provide adequate arms for war effort
• Unionists refused to continue supporting Liberals under Asquith’s rule
• Asquith original plan to fight war with ‘business as usual’ at home
• Asquith agrees to coalition of major parties
• Henderson invited onto coalition to help control trade unions
• Trade unions important part of war effort, control workers and output
• Labour had now arrived in national politics for first time having say
• Henderson became involved in disputes with cabinet  members
• Debate on adopting Russian aims of ‘no annexations and no indemnities’ and ‘no takeovers and no reparations’
• Henderson resigns and replaced by George Barnes

After World War I

• Began to heal divisions
• Drafted ‘Labour and new social order’ manifesto, giving clear socialist views
• New constitution for party including ‘clause four’
• Promising state control of economy for benefit of workers
• MacDonald and Henderson become joint leaders of party
• Conference November 11^th 1918 demanded resignation of Labour from coalition
• Many did, those who did not, resigned from Labour party
• Labour only party to fight general election as independent party
• Failed to win breakthrough with only 59 seats
• All but one sponsored by unions

However

• Independence gave Labour united front and removed them from failings of Liberals
• New programme gave working class a chance of better future under Labour party
• A future of socialism and reforms for benefit of working class

What effect did World War I have on Labour party?

• Gained experience and credibility from being on war cabinet at difficult time
• Shown to voting public could be part of government
• Divisions formed on outbreak of war failed to have detrimental effect
• Unlike liberals divisions which destroyed party
• MacDonald’s time away from party gave chance to strengthen manifesto with UDC
• Labour constitution gave chance to unite factions under one party
• Created aims which would win working class support

Other factors in Labour becoming opposition

Formation of Labour Representation Committee

• Formed by delegation of different socialist groups
• Agreed to cooperate to promote labour interests
• Created recognition for one united labour group to fight for workers in parliament
• Gained support and funding of trade unions after Taff Vale
• Gave stronger looking left wing and led to Liberals seeing opportunity for pact to help win election against Conservatives, but got Labour first elected positions
• Conservatives party split at time through Tariff reform

Taff Vale 1901

• Caused many working class voters to turn away from Conservative party
• Conservatives showed were unwilling to support working men
• Working class began to recognise need for working class party in parliament
• Dispute between rail workers and owners led to strike
• Company took union to court for loss of earnings during strike
• Ended at House of Lords (highest court of appeal in land)
• Lords voted in favour of company
• Trade unions and workers could now not afford to strike as could be punished
• Gave workers little power in demanding better quality conditions and pay
• Conservatives showed were in favour of wealthy
• Led to trade unions realising need to support a Labour party financially and electorally

Demise of Liberals

• Split of Liberals during World War I
• Liberals split before
• Asquith and Lloyd George fell out over war economy
• Asquith had failed to supply adequate munitions to front line
• Public recognised failure of Liberals under Asquith
• Coalition formed but still weak under Asquith leadership
• Conservatives moved against Asquith
• Asquith resigns as Prime Minister but stays on as leader of Liberals
• Lloyd George becomes Prime Minister of coalition
• Two factions formed in Liberals party
• Traditional Liberals Asquith and new Liberals Lloyd George
• Lloyd George although Prime Minister could never become leader of party whilst Asquith remained
• Meant Lloyd George continued with coalition after war to remain in power