reforms of the liberal government
made little difference to the lives of
the working class in the years
1908-14?
Tags
Intro:
if change is measured by the impact on the lives of the working class, then in the long term,
the liberal reforms had great impact on the lives of the working people, but in the short term
they were largely ineffective
This can be seen through the implementation of the national insurance act then the old age
pensions act and through the labour exchanges
Given that this time period is 1908 -14 it is clear that they did not hold great impact
Main body
1) David Lloyd Georges liberal government implemented the old age pensions act in 1908 and
it benefited the majority of the country in small amounts
All working class men and women over the age of 70 could receive 5s a week from the
government
Given the minimum wage (implemented in 1906) was 160 pounds a year, (about 13s
a week) it would suggest that the majority of the working class would receive half of
their final salary
This would not be sufficient ∴ many carried on to work past the age of 70
Many of the working class population did not even reach the age of 70 due to
industrially stimulated health problems
This would suggest that btwn 1908-14, the pension rate clearly was not high
enough and the majority of people did not receive it bc they never reached this
age
Clearly implies the short term impact was largely ineffective btwn the years
1908-14
BUT
how accurate is it to say that the reforms of the liberal government made little difference to the lives of the working
1
class in the years 1908-14?