The 'Liberal Landslide' 1906

The 'Liberal Landslide' 1906

1. Liberal Landslide!!

   • Result : Conservative 157 seats, Liberals 401 seats
   • Offered reform whilst reformation under the conservatives had been minimal

2. Why were the Conservatives unpopular by 1906?

   • Working Class
     • Conditions poor
     • No contracts, low pay, felt downtrodden
     • Conservatives failed to listen to them
   • Housewife
     • No idea of social reform
     • Not listened to
     • Needed cheaper food, Liberals offered Free Trade
   • Non-Conformist
     • Didn't want taxes going to church schools
     • Didn't agree with compensation going to brewery
   • Irish Nationalists
     • Government failed to listen to them
     • Conservatives wouldn't give a free state to Ireland
   • Manufacturer
     • Needed cheap supplies, Conservatives placed tariffs on goods
     • Import duties

3. Attractions of the Liberal Party by 1906

   • Reunited party
   • United behind banner of Free Trade
     • "Bread and butter" issue
     • Issue of great concern to voters in all classes
   • Exploited Conservatives
     • Trade unions
     • Misjudgements over education and licensing
   • Support for Home Rule
     • Gains Irish voters

4. Conservative weaknesses

   • Boer War
     • Revealed the extent of poverty in those called up to fight
   • Moral outcry
     • Over the methods used to detain the prisoners of war
   • Education Act and Brewer's Bill
     • Upset non-conformists
   • Chinese Labour Issue
     • trade unionists worried that cheap labour would affect British wages
   • Taff Vale case
     • Lords prevented strikers ever being able to call a successful strike again
       • Furthered lack of support from working class
   • The 1902 Education Act
     • Roused the fury of the nonconformists, led many of them to revert to Liberal Party
   • The 1904 Licensing Act
     • Annoyed nonconformist voters
   • Neglect of social reform
   • Tariff reform campaign
     • Biggest policy misjudgement.
     • Fear of tariffs would mean dearer food and falling living standards
     • Divided Conservative government and party
   • Conservative Leadership
     • Balfour lacked political skill.