rise of labour

• • Different political groups were set up to represent working-class interests.
  • This included the Independent Labour Party, the Social Democratic Federation and the Fabian Society.
  • In 1900, these groups worked together to form the Labour Representation Committee.
• • The Labour Party (as it became known in 1906) gave working class men a voice.
  • They also offered a variety of policies aimed at attracting working class support, including better housing, equal votes, more jobs and an eight-hour working day.
• • Wrong to claim that only Labour was taking local action to improve the lives of working-class Britons.
  • Many Liberal-controlled councils across Britain had also taken actions aimed at tackling poverty, including introducing free school meals.
• ANALYSIS (FOR)

  • Labour's rise caused the Liberal Party to fear.
  • They had traditionally attracted working-class votes, but this threatened their support.
  • The Liberal’s social reforms therefore may have been introduced to keep hold of working class votes.
• ANALYSIS (FOR)

  • In 1903, they formed a pact with Labour to not stand a Liberal candidate in areas with a high working-class vote.
  • This suggests that the Liberals knew that Labour could challenge them, and cost them votes.
• ANALYSIS (AGAINST)

  • In 1906, the Labour Party were still a new political party and not hugely influential.
  • Working-class parties had not been successful in previous elections.
  • Many Liberals would not have believed that they were going to lose support to Labour.
• EVALUATION (AGAINST)

  • The Liberal Manifesto in 1906 makes almost no mention of social reforms.
  • This suggests the issue is of limited importance.