Friday 7 June 2024 – Afternoon
A Level History A
Y112/01 Britain 1900–1951
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Turn over
, 2
Section A
England and a New Century c.1900–1918
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘The development of the Labour Party during the period from 1893 to 1914 was dependent on the
support of the Trade Unions.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: In the introduction to a biography of Keir Hardie, the Leader of the Labour Party,
Ramsay MacDonald, comments on the formation of the Independent Labour Party.
When the Independent Labour Party (ILP) was formed in Bradford, it was a forlorn hope attacked
by a section of Socialists on the one hand and by the union leaders on the other. Through the days
of fighting and trudging, Hardie’s dogged persistence made faint‑heartedness impossible. Hardie
had an inexhaustible inner resource needed between 1893 and 1900 in order to create the Labour
Movement. People were more important than things to him, a spirit that infused the ILP, and is one
reason why it became the greatest political influence of our time, and threw into an almost negligible
background all other Socialist bodies in this country.
Keir Hardie by William Stewart, 1921.
Source B: An active member of the ILP in Yorkshire describes the outcome of the conference
held in London, 27 February 1900, at which the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) was
formed.
The three socialist parties – the ILP, the Fabian Society and the Social Democrats–were represented.
The Trade Unions had 500 000 represented. To commit the Trade Unions to an extreme Socialist
programme would have made their co‑operation most unlikely. Keir Hardie, with a true appreciation of
the situation, on behalf of the ILP, moved an amendment that the conference ‘approve the formation
of a distinct Labour group in parliament, whose policy must embrace a readiness to co‑operate
with any party engaged in promoting legislation in the direct interests of labour’. This was passed
unanimously. The LRC executive comprised seven representing the Trade Unions, two the ILP, two
the Social democrats and one the Fabian Society.
Philip Snowden, An Autobiography, 1934.
Source C: The comments of a trade union delegate at the Annual Conference of the LRC are
reported in a popular national Sunday newspaper, the staff of which included leading trade
unionists.
In 1902, the numbers affiliated to the LRC were 450 000, and today the numbers were 750 000.
During the last few weeks the textile workers had come in, making the figure more like 850 000. He
[the trade union delegate] believed it would go on more and more as the workers began to realise
that the judges in the Taff Vale case were politically motivated and had placed themselves above and
beyond the legislature. The more the workers realised that the judges had subverted the laws of the
land, the more would their movement grow in strength.
Reynold’s Newspaper, article, 22 February 1903.
© OCR 2024 Y112/01 Jun24
, 3
Source D: A prominent member of the Fabian Society and critic of the Labour Party expresses
her views about the attitude of working man to the Labour Party.
[Ramsay] MacDonald represents the views and aspirations of the bulk of Trade Unionists. The British
workman has been persuaded by propaganda that a Labour Party is useful and that some of his class
ought to enjoy £400 a year and the prestige of being an MP. However, the closer the Labour Member
sticks to the Liberal Party the better he is pleased. So far as he has any politics he still believes in the
right of the middle and professional classes to do the work of government.
Beatrice Webb, Diary, 6 February 1914.
© OCR 2024 Y112/01 Jun24 Turn over
A Level History A
Y112/01 Britain 1900–1951
Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
Turn over
, 2
Section A
England and a New Century c.1900–1918
Study the four sources and answer Question 1.
1 ‘The development of the Labour Party during the period from 1893 to 1914 was dependent on the
support of the Trade Unions.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view. [30]
Source A: In the introduction to a biography of Keir Hardie, the Leader of the Labour Party,
Ramsay MacDonald, comments on the formation of the Independent Labour Party.
When the Independent Labour Party (ILP) was formed in Bradford, it was a forlorn hope attacked
by a section of Socialists on the one hand and by the union leaders on the other. Through the days
of fighting and trudging, Hardie’s dogged persistence made faint‑heartedness impossible. Hardie
had an inexhaustible inner resource needed between 1893 and 1900 in order to create the Labour
Movement. People were more important than things to him, a spirit that infused the ILP, and is one
reason why it became the greatest political influence of our time, and threw into an almost negligible
background all other Socialist bodies in this country.
Keir Hardie by William Stewart, 1921.
Source B: An active member of the ILP in Yorkshire describes the outcome of the conference
held in London, 27 February 1900, at which the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) was
formed.
The three socialist parties – the ILP, the Fabian Society and the Social Democrats–were represented.
The Trade Unions had 500 000 represented. To commit the Trade Unions to an extreme Socialist
programme would have made their co‑operation most unlikely. Keir Hardie, with a true appreciation of
the situation, on behalf of the ILP, moved an amendment that the conference ‘approve the formation
of a distinct Labour group in parliament, whose policy must embrace a readiness to co‑operate
with any party engaged in promoting legislation in the direct interests of labour’. This was passed
unanimously. The LRC executive comprised seven representing the Trade Unions, two the ILP, two
the Social democrats and one the Fabian Society.
Philip Snowden, An Autobiography, 1934.
Source C: The comments of a trade union delegate at the Annual Conference of the LRC are
reported in a popular national Sunday newspaper, the staff of which included leading trade
unionists.
In 1902, the numbers affiliated to the LRC were 450 000, and today the numbers were 750 000.
During the last few weeks the textile workers had come in, making the figure more like 850 000. He
[the trade union delegate] believed it would go on more and more as the workers began to realise
that the judges in the Taff Vale case were politically motivated and had placed themselves above and
beyond the legislature. The more the workers realised that the judges had subverted the laws of the
land, the more would their movement grow in strength.
Reynold’s Newspaper, article, 22 February 1903.
© OCR 2024 Y112/01 Jun24
, 3
Source D: A prominent member of the Fabian Society and critic of the Labour Party expresses
her views about the attitude of working man to the Labour Party.
[Ramsay] MacDonald represents the views and aspirations of the bulk of Trade Unionists. The British
workman has been persuaded by propaganda that a Labour Party is useful and that some of his class
ought to enjoy £400 a year and the prestige of being an MP. However, the closer the Labour Member
sticks to the Liberal Party the better he is pleased. So far as he has any politics he still believes in the
right of the middle and professional classes to do the work of government.
Beatrice Webb, Diary, 6 February 1914.
© OCR 2024 Y112/01 Jun24 Turn over
