KEY TOPIC ONE ESSAY PLANS
To what extent did the fortunes of the three main political parties change
in the years 1922-31and extent to which political landscape of the 3 main
parties changed in the years 1918-31
CRITERIA- LTM CHANGES, ELECTORAL SUCCESS, ABILITY TO FORM AND
INFLUENCE GOV
1. Large extent- liberal party- declined in power, after 1922 they
were tainted by scandals such as the chanak incident, cash of
peers and knighthood scandal. Furthermore they lacked the funds
required- due to George withholding the funds unless they gave
him their fully pledged support. Also they failed in the 1922,23,24
campaign due to not feidling out as many candidates.
Yellow book- was policies which appealed to the electorate but this
had little impact- this wss created in 1926 after Asquith left the
party- dealt with issues of unemployment and how to allow for
industry boom.
FPTP also limited their power- 1924 they won 17% of the vote but
only 40 seats but conservatives won 33% and won 150 seats
2. Large extent- labour party, grew,
1922 they won 142 seats, lost 1924, 1929 287 seats, 1931
meltdown of labour vote won 46 seats
Also broke away from liberal party
although the electoral system grew with an added 8 million wc
men, they were hugely popular due to organisation for example,
only 19 constituencies didn’t have local party branches.
Also able to maintain strong unity.
Decline was due to weak economic competence and also in 1924
association with soviet sympathies
3. Conservative party dominance
Between 1918-22 they were the dominant party in Lloyd Georges
coalation 335 c and 133, win in 1924, and in 1923 conservatives
loose their overall majority but still most dominant.
Electoral system benefited them – plural voting, 1921 irish free
state gained indepence so liberals lost 80 nationalist mps but
conservatives had 10 NI mps
Conservative research branding- for example they moved away
from party of wealth to one nation paternalism
Stanley Baldwin- owned factories and ran them fairly, promoted
good working relationships, also although seen as dull with the
safety first campaign he provided stability and security. > thus he
had a reputation for economic competence also destroyed liberals
in the coalition by supporting free trade taking them away from
their previous stances
Conservative research department 1929
, 4. Failure of extremist parties
Oswald mosely was a promising labour Mp before becoming
disillusioned with the party and founded the new party which won
0.2% of the vote.
Communist party of great Britian gained one mp in 1924 and 35
and two in 1945 however British people evidently rejected it as
they only ever got max 0.4% of the vote. Also the home grown
socialism created by strength of unions and traditionalism was
more popular and practical then revolutionary socialism advocated
by communists.
HOWEVER- THEY DID GET SOME CLEVERT TACTICS USED- IN A
FEW INNER CITY COUNCILS THEY USED ENTRYISM
How far do you agree that the landslide victory of the Labour
Party in the 1945 general election was only possible because of
Britain’s experience in the Second World War?
CRITERIA
NUMBER OF PEOPLE EFFECTED
Direct impact on peoples voting behaviour or is it more of a short
term background factor
1. Total war- the experience of everyone helping in weather via the
emergency medical services which laid the blueprint for the NHS
introduced in 1939. Collectivism was demonstrated. Also rationing
everyone had to ration even the rich. Also evacuation allowed
other ppl to take care of children.
2. Beveridge report -65000 copies sold- labour promised to
implement the policies – conservatives wanted – Churchill rejected
this and labour manifesto was more descriptive
Want, disease, idleness, squalor and ignorance
3. Leadership- clement Attlee
Campaign- lets finish the job, vs labour for him and lets face the
future also Attlee touring the country
Atlee deputy prime minister and often leaded the commons whislt
Churchill was away on war business
Bevin- he minimised strikes and maximised output- after war he
became foreign secretary
Morrison- successfully dealt with the blitz
Hugh Dalton- respected for his minister of war economy – become
chancellor
Churchill- lacklustre campaign, he was also criticising for labelling
labour as some radical left who would use secret police if in power
To what extent did the fortunes of the three main political parties change
in the years 1922-31and extent to which political landscape of the 3 main
parties changed in the years 1918-31
CRITERIA- LTM CHANGES, ELECTORAL SUCCESS, ABILITY TO FORM AND
INFLUENCE GOV
1. Large extent- liberal party- declined in power, after 1922 they
were tainted by scandals such as the chanak incident, cash of
peers and knighthood scandal. Furthermore they lacked the funds
required- due to George withholding the funds unless they gave
him their fully pledged support. Also they failed in the 1922,23,24
campaign due to not feidling out as many candidates.
Yellow book- was policies which appealed to the electorate but this
had little impact- this wss created in 1926 after Asquith left the
party- dealt with issues of unemployment and how to allow for
industry boom.
FPTP also limited their power- 1924 they won 17% of the vote but
only 40 seats but conservatives won 33% and won 150 seats
2. Large extent- labour party, grew,
1922 they won 142 seats, lost 1924, 1929 287 seats, 1931
meltdown of labour vote won 46 seats
Also broke away from liberal party
although the electoral system grew with an added 8 million wc
men, they were hugely popular due to organisation for example,
only 19 constituencies didn’t have local party branches.
Also able to maintain strong unity.
Decline was due to weak economic competence and also in 1924
association with soviet sympathies
3. Conservative party dominance
Between 1918-22 they were the dominant party in Lloyd Georges
coalation 335 c and 133, win in 1924, and in 1923 conservatives
loose their overall majority but still most dominant.
Electoral system benefited them – plural voting, 1921 irish free
state gained indepence so liberals lost 80 nationalist mps but
conservatives had 10 NI mps
Conservative research branding- for example they moved away
from party of wealth to one nation paternalism
Stanley Baldwin- owned factories and ran them fairly, promoted
good working relationships, also although seen as dull with the
safety first campaign he provided stability and security. > thus he
had a reputation for economic competence also destroyed liberals
in the coalition by supporting free trade taking them away from
their previous stances
Conservative research department 1929
, 4. Failure of extremist parties
Oswald mosely was a promising labour Mp before becoming
disillusioned with the party and founded the new party which won
0.2% of the vote.
Communist party of great Britian gained one mp in 1924 and 35
and two in 1945 however British people evidently rejected it as
they only ever got max 0.4% of the vote. Also the home grown
socialism created by strength of unions and traditionalism was
more popular and practical then revolutionary socialism advocated
by communists.
HOWEVER- THEY DID GET SOME CLEVERT TACTICS USED- IN A
FEW INNER CITY COUNCILS THEY USED ENTRYISM
How far do you agree that the landslide victory of the Labour
Party in the 1945 general election was only possible because of
Britain’s experience in the Second World War?
CRITERIA
NUMBER OF PEOPLE EFFECTED
Direct impact on peoples voting behaviour or is it more of a short
term background factor
1. Total war- the experience of everyone helping in weather via the
emergency medical services which laid the blueprint for the NHS
introduced in 1939. Collectivism was demonstrated. Also rationing
everyone had to ration even the rich. Also evacuation allowed
other ppl to take care of children.
2. Beveridge report -65000 copies sold- labour promised to
implement the policies – conservatives wanted – Churchill rejected
this and labour manifesto was more descriptive
Want, disease, idleness, squalor and ignorance
3. Leadership- clement Attlee
Campaign- lets finish the job, vs labour for him and lets face the
future also Attlee touring the country
Atlee deputy prime minister and often leaded the commons whislt
Churchill was away on war business
Bevin- he minimised strikes and maximised output- after war he
became foreign secretary
Morrison- successfully dealt with the blitz
Hugh Dalton- respected for his minister of war economy – become
chancellor
Churchill- lacklustre campaign, he was also criticising for labelling
labour as some radical left who would use secret police if in power
