Baldwin Governments (1923-29)

Baldwin Governments (1923-29)

1. Leadership

   • inherited from Andrew Bonar Law due to ill health
     • May 1923
   • status had been enhanced by his role in the removal of DLG at Carlton Club in Oct 1922

2. Election Error

   • initially viewed at quite inexperienced
   • big error by calling early election on issue of tariff reform DEC 1923
   • Free trade remained popular
   • Labour minority gov ruled for 10 months

3. Cabinet

   • Back in office 1924
   • Austen Chamberlain (Foreign Secretary)
   • Winston Churchill (Chancellor of Exchequer)
   • Neville Chamberlain (Minister of Health)

4. Economic Policy

   • persued orthodox economic polices
     • aimed to balance budget
   • income tax cut in 1925 budget
     • aimed to regenerate economy & consumer spending
   • Re-joined gold standard in 1925
     • good for national prestige but bad for trade.

5. Social/Domestic Policies

   • Neville Chamberlain made significant social reforms
     • Housing Act 1923
     • social insurance extended 1925
     • pension age reduced to 65 1927
     • unemployment benefit improved 1927
     • local governments improved
     • franchise equalised for women 1928

6. Industrial Unrest

   • faced growing trade union demands
   • militancy culminated in the General Strike MAY 1926

7. Foreign & Imperial Policy

   • Treaty of Lausanne 1923
     • peaceful resolution of dispute with Turkey
   • Locarno treaty 1925
     • increased disarmament
       • worsening relations with Soviet Russia
     • positive attempt to resolve franco-german border issues & remove likelihood of further war
   • Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
     • further move away from future wat

8. Downfall

   • failed to cut unemployment or stop industrial decline
   • lost 1929 general election
     • worked out good as Labour minority inherited Wall Street Crash and its consequences

9. 1923-24 1924-29