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Political aftermath of Political aftermath of WW1WW1
Decline of Liberals & rise of Decline of Liberals & rise of Conservatives and LabourConservatives and Labour
The end of the war meant a return to The end of the war meant a return to domestic politicsdomestic politics
General Election was called for December General Election was called for December 19181918
Lloyd George was determined to fight and Lloyd George was determined to fight and win the election on the coalitions wartime win the election on the coalitions wartime recordrecord
Lloyd George had the support of most Lloyd George had the support of most Liberals and the conservatives.Liberals and the conservatives.
OppositionOpposition
Labour had left the coalitionLabour had left the coalition As did the supporters of Asquith in the As did the supporters of Asquith in the
Liberal PartyLiberal Party
Split in the Liberal PartySplit in the Liberal Party
Reasons
Introduction of Conscription caused
problems
Non-Interventionistideas
Battles betweenAsquith & Lloyd
George
King George replaced Asquith
With Lloyd GeorgeIn 1916.
Many MPs withdrew their support and stopped paying subscriptions. Arguments within the
Party weakened itsorganisation and
demoralised its workers
‘‘Coupon Election’Coupon Election’
14 December 191814 December 1918 ‘‘Coupon’ – A letter of support from Lloyd George Coupon’ – A letter of support from Lloyd George
& Andrew Bonar Law (Leader of Conservatives) & Andrew Bonar Law (Leader of Conservatives) Coalition candidates did not compete against Coalition candidates did not compete against
each othereach other All 159 Liberal candidates supporting DLG were All 159 Liberal candidates supporting DLG were
given the ‘coupon’ and all 159 Liberals won.given the ‘coupon’ and all 159 Liberals won. Most of Asquith’s non-coupon Liberals lost.Most of Asquith’s non-coupon Liberals lost. Asquith lost his seat for East Fife.Asquith lost his seat for East Fife.
Seats in ScotlandSeats in Scotland
Conservatives 32Conservatives 32 Coalition Liberals 19Coalition Liberals 19 Asquith Liberals 8Asquith Liberals 8 Labour 8Labour 8
Effect of Coupon ElectionEffect of Coupon Election
Divisions created by the election had a lasting Divisions created by the election had a lasting effect on party solidarityeffect on party solidarity
Coalition Liberals found themselves fighting Coalition Liberals found themselves fighting former colleaguesformer colleagues
The split in its ranks had damaged party unity, it The split in its ranks had damaged party unity, it had been criticised for its handling of the warhad been criticised for its handling of the war War Front CriticismWar Front Criticism Treatment of Labour DisputesTreatment of Labour Disputes Support for Irish Home RuleSupport for Irish Home Rule
Conservative PartyConservative Party
The chief beneficiaries in Scotland were the The chief beneficiaries in Scotland were the Conservatives who not only won the most seats Conservatives who not only won the most seats but attracted 30% of the votebut attracted 30% of the vote
Emerged from the war as a significant power in Emerged from the war as a significant power in the landthe land
Increasingly the middle classes were seen as Increasingly the middle classes were seen as the safeguard of the conservatives the safeguard of the conservatives
Worked hard to build up a core support in Worked hard to build up a core support in country areas and amongst young people who country areas and amongst young people who wanted to ‘get on in life’.wanted to ‘get on in life’.
Labour PartyLabour Party
Won as many votes as the conservatives but Won as many votes as the conservatives but losing out on seats as a result of ‘First Past the losing out on seats as a result of ‘First Past the Post’Post’
Like the conservatives, the Labour Party picked Like the conservatives, the Labour Party picked up support from the Liberals.up support from the Liberals.
Labour looked for support from the industrial Labour looked for support from the industrial working class but also got backing from working class but also got backing from moderates and free thinkers who saw them as moderates and free thinkers who saw them as the coming party and an engine for social the coming party and an engine for social changechange
Continued…Continued… Extension of the Franchise in 1918Extension of the Franchise in 1918 Representation of the People Act Representation of the People Act Extended the electorate by giving women over Extended the electorate by giving women over
30 and men over 21 the vote30 and men over 21 the vote A huge number of working class men over 21 A huge number of working class men over 21
gained the vote for the first timegained the vote for the first time Benefited from Irish Catholic voters who Benefited from Irish Catholic voters who
deserted the Liberals after 1916 Easter Uprisingdeserted the Liberals after 1916 Easter Uprising Brutal and repressive policies of the Government Brutal and repressive policies of the Government
afterwards had infuriated Catholics in Ireland afterwards had infuriated Catholics in Ireland and Scotland.and Scotland.