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Britain 20 markerBritish politics 1918-1929
1. Why did Lloyd George fall from power?
2. What was the significance of the 1923 election?
3. What were the aims and achievements of the 1924 Labour government and why
did it fall?
4. Why did the Liberal party decline by 1924?
5. What accounts for the Conservative recovery by 1924 and how successful were
their policies in 1924-29?
6. What changes did the 1920s bring in terms of equal citizenship for women?
7. Why did Labour take office again in 1929?
1. assess the reasons for DLG’s fall in 1922.
The downfall of David Lloyd George, once hailed as the 'man who won the war' in 1918, was
marked by a series of factors that led to his resignation in 1922. Despite his initial popularity and
acclaim, his decisions on contentious issues like Ireland Nationalism and the Chanak Conflict
alienated both the Liberals and Conservatives due to his lack of firm party allegiance, which was
specifically seen at the famous meeting at the Carlton club on 19th October 1922. This
indecisiveness eroded his support base and ultimately led to his downfall, with many perceiving
him as a scapegoat by those who initially stood by him.
David Lloyd George's downfall was exacerbated by numerous problems in foreign policy, which
eroded public confidence and support. His perceived irresponsibility in foreign affairs,
demonstrated by misjudgments such as the Chanak Crisis and the unrest in Iraq following
World War I mandates and the acquisition of colonies in Africa, fueled fears of war and
instability. The Chanak Crisis, in particular, highlighted his perceived dictatorial tendencies and
alienated support from Conservatives. This is because Turk nationalists massacred the Greek in
1922 and entered what the treaty of severs declared a demilitarised zone in the area of the old
Gallipoli battlefields of 1915. DLG’s determination to confront Turkish forces and prevent them
from remilitarising the zone was met with domestic opposition. It was seen as a crisis' been
seen as one deliberately manufactured by DLG to rally Conservative support for himself
- it failed. By 1922 there had been quite a reaction against the treaties and a desire not
to be drawn into any conflicts that they might provoke. Additionally, controversial moves
like the Balfour Declaration, which heightened tensions in Palestine, and Britain's acquisition of
colonies in Africa burdened Britain with increased administration and defense costs, without
commensurate economic benefits, further strained his leadership. Furthermore, Lloyd George's
,attempts to navigate international conferences and maintain peace settlements, particularly
through his perceived closeness to France, drew criticism domestically. The French demands
for reparations from Germany, which hindered German economic recovery and affected British
exports, further exacerbated tensions. Amidst rising economic distress at home, the need to
reduce defense spending complicated efforts to pursue a robust foreign policy, ultimately
contributing to Lloyd George's weakened authority and downfall.
David Lloyd George's downfall in 1922 was also influenced by personal scandals and the
reactions of his cabinet. The Honours scandal, which revealed the alleged sale of knighthoods
( £10k) and peerages, epitomized the moral bankruptcy of his regime. Accusations of selling
honors for political funds tarnished his reputation, especially when it was revealed that
individuals with criminal records were among those honored such as William vesty who was
convicted of tax evasion. The scandal led to a withdrawal of support from the Conservative
Party exacerbated by growing discontent within the party over the Coalition's perceived failures
and the increasing success of Labour in elections.The opposition among backbench Tory MPs
in the light of by-election results such as the one in Newport and the desire for a return to a
purely Conservative government. dependent on conservative support (they had 32.6% of thel) i
votes)Some of the new MP's came from business backgrounds were difficult to control, they
had little time for traditional political ideas/ leadersThe replacement of Austen Chamberlain by
Bonar Law was important as Chamberlain was more a coalition supporter and signalled the end
of DLG’s political career. The decision to hold an immediate election without consulting the party
backfired, as backbenchers demanded a party meeting, which took place at the Carlton Club on
October 19, 1922. The resignations of key cabinet ministers, including Lord Curzon and Stanley
Baldwin, further undermined Lloyd George's leadership. Baldwin's damning speech against
Lloyd George at the Carlton Club meeting, along with Bonar Law's return to active political life to
oppose the continuation of the Coalition, signaled the loss of support from the Conservative
leadership. Lloyd George resigned when he realized he had become a scapegoat for the
failures of policies imposed by the Tories. This made him extremely vulnerable as he wanted to
please both the Conservatives and Liberals. In this way he was described as a man without a
party. In March 1920, he launched his plans to create a new Centre party, fusing together those
Liberals who supported him and the bulk of the Conservatives. However, a party needs a
common basis of sentiment and ideology. In the end this plan was blocked by the Liberal
ministers in his government.
David Lloyd George's leadership of the coalition party in 1922 faltered due to a combination of
failed policies and economic challenges. Despite initial promises of post-war reconstruction, the
economic situation worsened, leading to discontent among the electorate with industrial unrest
remaining high with days lost by strikes still 85 million in 1921. While some liberal principles
were implemented, such as welfare reforms targeting various demographics like the young, old,
and working class, the failure to deliver on housing promises such as the Addison’s housing act
1919 which create more council houses 213,000) not enough and the impact of the Geddes Axe
of august 1921, which recommended £87 million in cuts to government spending, eroded public
support. This is because the Geddes Axe resulted in social policies unravelling and the end of
housing subsidies and the lifting of wartime controls, exacerbating housing shortages and
,contributing to industrial unrest. Additionally, the return of control of railways and coal mines to
private ownership such as thr railways act of 1920 (ending wartime control and grouping them
into 4 large private companies) without addressing underlying issues like outdated infrastructure
and rising unemployment further fueled dissatisfaction. The failure to address rising
unemployment that got up to 2 million in June 1921 and industrial unrest, combined with the
Conservatives' desire to distance themselves from Lloyd George's liberal policies, ultimately led
to a loss of support within the coalition party. The wider electorate's discontent and the revival of
calls for economic protection further threatened Conservative seats, prompting a shift away from
the coalition and a focus on restoring the party's independence and integrity. These issues,
compounded by the failure to fulfill wartime promises and the deteriorating economic situation,
undermined Lloyd George's leadership and contributed to his downfall in 1922.
David Lloyd George's downfall in 1922 was influenced by his handling of the Irish issue, marked
by a series of U-turns and perceived misjudgments. The aggressive policy towards Ireland,
followed by reversals, contributed to inconsistency within the coalition government. The Easter
Rising of 1916 and subsequent harsh treatment of Irish rebels with 15 of the leaders being
executed - fueled opposition to British rule, leading to the rise of Sinn Fein (with eamon de
Valera as president) who were radical and wanted full independence ( gained around ….) and
the establishment of the Dail, Ireland's own parliament. Lloyd George's use of the Black and
Tans, notorious for their extreme and violent tactics, exacerbated problems in the Anglo-Irish
war and tarnished Britain's reputation internationally for example in 1920 they burned down
large parts of the city of cork being condemned by the us and British press. The Government of
Ireland Act 1920, aimed at partitioning Ireland, faced rejection from Sinn Fein, who sought
complete independence. Lloyd George's involvement in the 2nd Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1919-1921
where Collins’s signed to make Ireland free and north a small British territory, further divided
opinion, with some blaming him for encouraging civil war in the south and for the eventual
partition of Ireland and Michael Collins assissination. Despite some relief at the resolution of
these issues and praise for Lloyd George's political acumen, particularly in the negotiations over
Ireland, these actions contributed to his declining popularity and ultimately played a role in his
downfall in 1922.
Theme running through is his mistakes and the gradual loss of conservative support. In the
culmination of David Lloyd George's leadership, the downfall in 1922 stemmed from a complex
interplay of factors. While his personal appeal and the coalition government's mistakes and
inconsistencies certainly contributed, the broader post-war context, marked by economic
instability and the Conservatives' desire to reassert their party's independence, played a
decisive role. Despite Lloyd George's notable successes, the shifting political landscape and
growing opposition within the Conservative ranks ultimately proved insurmountable. The
Chanak crisis may have hastened the coalition's demise, but it merely underscored the
underlying tensions that had been building. In the end, the coalition's unraveling was an
inevitable outcome of the challenging circumstances facing post-war governance, making Lloyd
George's downfall a product of both his actions and the larger political dynamics at play.
, 2. To what extent was the downfall of DLG due to his own actions
The downfall of David Lloyd George, once hailed as the 'man who won the war' in 1918, was
marked by a series of factors that led to his resignation in 1922. Despite his initial popularity and
acclaim, his decisions on contentious issues like Ireland Nationalism and the Chanak Conflict
alienated both the Liberals and Conservatives due to his lack of firm party allegiance, which was
specifically seen at the famous meeting at the Carlton club on 19th October 1922. This
indecisiveness eroded his support base and ultimately led to his downfall, with many perceiving
him as a scapegoat by those who initially stood by him.
David Lloyd George's downfall can indeed be attributed in part to his own actions, particularly in
the realm of foreign policy. The Chanak Crisis, a prime example, showcased his perceived
recklessness and authoritarian tendencies, alienating support from Conservatives and eroding
public confidence. His decision to confront Turkish forces in an attempt to prevent them from
remilitarizing the demilitarized zone according to the treaty of severes in the aftermath of the
Turkish nationalist massacres of Greeks in 1922 backfired, as it was seen as a calculated move
to rally support that ultimately failed. By 1922 there had been quite a reaction against the
treaties and a desire not to be drawn into any conflicts that they might provoke, this was
especially seen by the foreign separate a conservative, lord curzon. Additionally,
controversial moves like the Balfour Declaration, which heightened tensions in Palestine, and
Britain's acquisition of colonies in Africa burdened Britain with increased administration and
defense costs, without commensurate economic benefits, further strained his leadership.
The dissatisfaction within the Conservative Party, as evidenced by the critical
Conservative conference in Liverpool and the victory of an independent Conservative
candidate in Newport, October, highlighted a growing rift within the coalition. The
replacement of Austen Chamberlain with Bonar Law signaled a shift away from coalition
support, further weakening DLG's position. The resignations of key cabinet ministers
including Lord Curzon and Stanley Baldwin and the scathing critique by Stanley Baldwin at
the Carlton Club October 19th,1922 meeting underscored the loss of support from both
within his own party and the Conservatives. DLG's attempt to please both
Conservatives and Liberals ultimately left him without a strong political base.
Additionally, his efforts to create a new Centre party were thwarted by Liberal ministers
in his government, demonstrating the challenges he faced in maintaining political
alliances, in this way he could be called a man without a party. Lloyd George resigned
when he realized he had become a scapegoat for the failures of policies imposed by the Tories.
Thus, while DLG's actions certainly played a role, the broader political landscape and
internal party dynamics were equally influential in his downfall.
David Lloyd George's downfall can largely be attributed to his own actions, particularly his move
away from key liberal policies that alienated both his party and the broader electorate. His
approach to the Irish issue, marked by inconsistency and harsh measures such as the use of
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