Labor Party, 1900-1914: Establishment as an Independent and Influential Political Party
Assess the view that in the period 1900-1914 the Labour party made significant progress towards establishing itself as an independent and influential political party (70 marks).
The Labour Party, before the start of the war in 1914, had a total of 36 seats. In the general election of 1902, the party under the name LRC had one just two seats. This seems a remarkable feat in just over a decade. However some historians argue that Labour, in actual fact made little or no progress at all during this period. This seems to be an astonishing statement to make considering the number of MPs accumulated by the party in such a short space of time. Nevertheless, there is evidence which supports this historical view. The Labour Party, in the 1910 general election had gathered 42 MPs; however this was reduced to the figure of 36, by a string of by-election defeats. This according to some historians shows Labour’s progress stagnating after an ‘electrifying start,’ which captured the imaginations of many. In addition to this before 1910, the Liberals enjoyed a considerable overall majority; however this freedom was ended by the 1910 general election. This had a devastating impact on Labour, as it was the Irish National Party, not they who held the balance of power, as the INP were twice the size of Labour. Labour was thus side-lined, in parliament which many historians use as a sign of Labour’s infant, stagnating influence within British politics. As historians disagree over the impact the party made and its political strength, the question is, had Labour made significant progress towards establishing itself as an independent and influential political party?
Sources A, suggests Labour importance, and foreshadows victory in the forthcoming election, and shows the dawn of a Labour representation in Parliament, with working class backing. However it is clearly far too optimistic, given the fact Labour was an organisation in its infancy, formed as the LRC 6 years prior, and the
The Labour Party, before the start of the war in 1914, had a total of 36 seats. In the general election of 1902, the party under the name LRC had one just two seats. This seems a remarkable feat in just over a decade. However some historians argue that Labour, in actual fact made little or no progress at all during this period. This seems to be an astonishing statement to make considering the number of MPs accumulated by the party in such a short space of time. Nevertheless, there is evidence which supports this historical view. The Labour Party, in the 1910 general election had gathered 42 MPs; however this was reduced to the figure of 36, by a string of by-election defeats. This according to some historians shows Labour’s progress stagnating after an ‘electrifying start,’ which captured the imaginations of many. In addition to this before 1910, the Liberals enjoyed a considerable overall majority; however this freedom was ended by the 1910 general election. This had a devastating impact on Labour, as it was the Irish National Party, not they who held the balance of power, as the INP were twice the size of Labour. Labour was thus side-lined, in parliament which many historians use as a sign of Labour’s infant, stagnating influence within British politics. As historians disagree over the impact the party made and its political strength, the question is, had Labour made significant progress towards establishing itself as an independent and influential political party?
Sources A, suggests Labour importance, and foreshadows victory in the forthcoming election, and shows the dawn of a Labour representation in Parliament, with working class backing. However it is clearly far too optimistic, given the fact Labour was an organisation in its infancy, formed as the LRC 6 years prior, and the