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.