Changing Politics

• Decline of the Liberal Party

  • Became less popular
  • The Liberal party became divided on the war
  • Responsible for DORA - some felt too much control
  • Blamed for high casualty rate
  • Blamed for munitions crisis in 1915
  • Other parties now gained support - Conservatives, and Labour
• Growing Popularity of the Labour Party

  • 1915 - asked to form coalition party with the Liberals
  • 1918 - many more people supported Labour
  • 1914 - 800,000 supporters,
  • 1918 - 2.25 million supporters
  • Seen as the party that represented the working-classes interests
  • Developed policies to improve welfare of the poor, and working-classes
• The Red Clydeside

  • In 1917, The October Revolution happened
  • The UK was worried a revolution might happen
  • People were unhappy with their lives after the war:
  • Poor housing,
  • Low wages,
  • Bad working conditions
• The Red Clydeside

  • January 27th 1919 - general strike called, this was organised by the Clyde Workers Committee (CWC)
  • Led by, Willie Gallacher, David Kirkwood, and John MacLean
  • George Square, Glasgow - 90,000 workers striked
  • Police were there with their batons
  • Government then sent 12,000 English soldiers, and 6 tanks
  • Machine guns posts set up all over the city
• Results of The Red Clydeside

  • Clyde Workers Committee leaders arrested
  • Government agreed to a 47hr working week, instead of 40hrs
  • Workers felt angry, and began supporting the ILP, and the Scottish Labour Party
  • Many felt the government overreacted