Baldwin's Goverment

Baldwin's Goverment

1. Issues

   • Domestic & Industry - Did not give vote to women over 21 as plural vote not abolished. Lab did not like the LGA as the government would cut off grants to disobedient councils (cut independence), also poplarism where Lab councils had to run up huge dents paying wages and benefits.Many suggested General Strike was issue, though dealt with in 2 weeks and the Trades Dispute Act of 1927 limited TU power. Unemployment still at 1M and coal still decline.
   • -Foreign Locarno suggested no action needed to be taken in Germany attacked Poland, despite LoN covenant promising protection. Kellogg Briand Pact 1928, renounced war, but useless due to no sanctions if broke.

2. Debate

   • Lowe - they were dominant due to upper class support reliance, vague principles which allowed them to be open to reforms and still took around a third of working class votes.
   • General - Got 140 less seats partly due to how all except N. Chamberlain were dull.
   • Ball - they were a very national party, with a large framework and many types of constituencies especially in rural areas where Con social events were a large part of local areas.
   • Murphy - Baldwin was politically skilled (he gave Churchill the post of exchequer to keep him out of trouble and united pro-free traders like him with protectionists like Leopold Amery). He was a great communicator (This Torch of Freedom) and as Ramsden observes was the first to become truly familiar with the voting public.

3. Policies

   • Foreign - Austen aided in the Locarno treaties which at the time were seen as reconciling Germany and France. Also saw the Arcos Affair in 1927 where a raid on Arcos (body that managed trade with USSR) at accusations of serving as front for subversive activies led to hugely damaged relations and diplomatic scare.
   • -Industry - Agriculture has no rates payment and industrial property only ¼ to encourage expansion and provide jobs. Government also gave council grant to help poor and was fairer as poor did not have to foot bills from rates locally. The Central Electric Board appointed by Minister of Transport leads to start of electric distribution and grid completed by 1933.
   • Domestic - Unemployment Act of 1927 increased contributions and reduced benefits but indefinite period. Local Government Act, 1929, N.Chamberlain, saw Poor Law unions abolished and county borough councils took over. Also gave council grant to help poor and was fairer as poor did not have to foot bills from rates locally. The BBC also became a public corporation (John Reith wants educational info for everyone). Note the 1928 Equal Franchise Act which gave women over the age of 21 the vote.

4. Why loss?

   • Despite only one resignation (Lord Cecil over not enough disarmament) "Safety First" campaign (dull compared to Yellow Book) with no new policy though wanted to promote solid performance over superficial glamour. TDA showed vindictive and new things like pensions were many years in the past. Williamson = Increasing Lib challenge takes votes from Cons so more for Labour and Labour proved not to be extreme combined with rising unemployment.