Liberal reforms

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The Liberal reforms (1906-1914) collectively describes legislation passed by the British Liberal Party after the 1906 General Election. It has been argued that this legislation shows the emergence of the modern welfare state.

During the 1906 General Election campaign none of the parties made poverty an election issue and no promises were made to introduce welfare reforms. Despite this the Liberals led by Henry Campbell-Bannerman won a landslide victory and began introducing wide ranging reforms as soon as they took office^[1].

1 Reasons for the Liberal reforms
2 Social legislation passed by the previous Conservative government
3 Impact of the liberal reforms
4 People's Budget and Constitutional crisis
5 Criticism of the scale of reform
6 Reforms after 1910
7 Contemporary criticism of the Liberal reforms
8 Legislation passed by the Liberals
9 External links
10 References

[edit] Reasons for the Liberal reforms

The rise of progressive liberalism within the Liberal Party. Before this period classical liberalism had been the dominant ideology within the party. Classical liberalism emphasised a laissez-faire system of government to protect liberty. Progressive liberalism was an ideology which promoted state intervention.
The writings of Charles Booth and Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree. These writers helped change attitudes towards the causes of poverty. They stated that illness and old age were greater causes of poverty than idleness and moral weakness
The threat from the emerging Labour Party. Socialism was an increasingly popular ideology; if the Liberals did not put forward popular policies, they were in danger of losing votes and handing the House of Commons to the Conservatives.
The trade union movement was growing especially during the period 1910-1912. Unless living conditions were improved there were genuine concerns what workers may turn to communism or rebellion^[2].
The fact that the Liberals had to form a coalition government with the Labour Party after the 1910 General Election meant that further legislation was passed.
The condition of soldiers during the Boer War was considered unacceptable. The British government had trouble enlisting enough able-bodied recruits to the British army.
Germany and the USA were overtaking Britain as economic powers - the success of social legislation in Bismarck's Germany made leading Liberals in the UK such as David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill want to put forward similar legislation.
The emergence of public works schemes set up to improve living conditions which were often run by the Liberals raised the possibly that such schemes could occur on a national scale^[3].

[edit] Social legislation passed by the previous Conservative government

The Conservative government in office before the Liberals came to power passed the Unempolyed Workman's Act in 1903 sand the Employment of Children Act also in 1903. Slum housing was also cleared for new houses to be built. However, much of this legislation was left for local authorities to implement - their attitudes affected whether legislation was fully implemented^[4].

[edit] Impact of the liberal reforms

[edit] Children

In 1906 Children were provided with free school meals and in 1908 the Children and Young Person's Act formed part of the Children's Charter which imposed punishments for those neglecting children. It became illegal to sell children cigarettes and tobacco or to send children begging. Juvenile courts and borstals were created instead for young offenders so they did not have to stand in adult courts and go to adult prisons for most offences. ^[5].

[edit] Elderly

In 1908 Pensions were introduced for the over 70s. This paid 5s a week to single men and women and 7s 6d to married couples. However, the pensions were means-tested (to receive the pension one had to earn less than £31.50 annually) and intentionally low to encourage workers to make their own provisions for the future. ^[5] ^[6]

[edit] Workers

In 1909 Labour exchanges were set up help unemployed people find work, by providing centres where a large amount of employers and the unemployed to post jobs and apply for them. The National Insurance Act (Part I) passed in 1911 gave workers the right to sick pay of 10s a week in return for a payment for 4s and free medical treatment. The National Insurance Act (Part II) gave workers the right to unemployment pay of 7s 6d a week for 15 weeks in return for a payment of 2½d a week. ^[5]

[edit] People's Budget and Constitutional crisis

The Liberal reforms were funded by David Lloyd George passing his controversial People's Budget which heavily taxed the rich in order to pay for welfare solutions for the poor. The budget met opposition in the House of Lords and only passed when a Parliament Act was passed limiting the powers of the Lords over the Commons.

Lloyd George argued that his budget would eliminate poverty, while trying to get the Act passed he gave this speech outlining his reasons for supporting the reforms:

"This is a war Budget. It is for raising money to wage implacable warfare against poverty and squalidness. I cannot help hoping and believing that before this generation has passed away,we shall have advanced a great step towards that good time, when poverty, and the wretchedness and human degradation which always follows in its camp, will be as remote to the people of this country as the wolves which once infested its forests." ^[7]

David Lloyd George describing the reasons for his "People's Budget"

[edit] Criticism of the scale of reform

While the Liberal reforms were one of Britain's most ambitious welfare reforms programmes, there were several limitations to the reforms they passed. Free school meals were not compulsory. Pensions were refused to those who had not been in work most of their life and the Labour exchange programme often only managed to fing people part-time casual work. The Poor had to pay National Insurance Contributions out of their wages and the 7s 6d was not enough to live on. Dole and sickness pay also only lasted for a limited time. Free medical care was only available to a wage-earner - not their wife or children^[8].

[edit] Reforms after 1910

After 1910 The Liberal Party did not have a majority in the House of Commons and so entered into a coalition with 42 Labour Party MPs who had been elected. This led to further reforms as the Liberals required Labour support to remain in office^[9].

[edit] Contemporary criticism of the Liberal reforms

The Liberal reforms received criticism from those who saw this level of government intervention in people's lives as preventing self-help. The cost of the reforms was also criticised and there were also critics who suggested that the reforms would not work in practise.^[10]

Some workers objected to paying the National Insurance contributions. The chant "Taffy was a Welshman, taffy was a thief" was chanted at Lloyd George by workers and referred to the suggestion that Welshman Lloyd George was taking their wages away from them^[11].

[edit] Legislation passed by the Liberals

1906 Trade Disputes Act - ruled that unions could not be considered liable for damages because of strikes.
1906 Workmen's Compensation Act - Granted compensation for injury at work.
1906 Merchant Shipping Act
1906 Education Act
1907 Education Act - created school medical inspections .
1908 Mines Act - Miners now worked 8 hour days.
1908 Children and Young Person's Act (Children's Charter)
1908 Old Age Pensions Act
1909 Labour Exchanges Act
1909 Trade Boards Act
1909 Housing and Town Planning Act
1911 National Insurance Act
1911 Shops Act - shop owners could not take half a day off work per week.
1912 Minimum Wage Act (Miners)

From 1911 MPs were also paid meaning that working class people could stand for election^[12].

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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Categories: Poverty | UK Liberal Party | Political history of the United Kingdom