The Labour Government and Its Success in Achieving Its Aims in 1924

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The Labour Government and Its Success in Achieving Its Aims in 1924

In January 1924 Ramsey MacDonald formed labours initial administration

in coalition with the liberals his appointment of red clydesider and

fellow Scot John Wheatley as health minister raised hopes of social

change in Scotland. The labour and liberal governments were able to

out vote the conservatives over political issues.

Wheatley's 1924 Housing Act attempted to initiate an agenda of slum

clearance and subsidised housing but it died with the Conservative

triumph in the General Election in October. In 1929 there was a

minority government so passing laws were complicated, however, the

liberals supported the labour party.

The labour government had many aims for Britain in different areas of

politics. The financial issues affecting the British population and

the government were that the government required to decrease the total

of expenditure; this enabled them to steady the economy and help to

finance the country. In 1929 the country had suffered economic

depression from the Wall Street crash this also contributed to the

decline of trade in Britain and the economy slumping.

There was a large dilemma of unemployment in Britain and the

government wanted to get rid of poverty. Sickness and old age also

contributed to this poverty. The living conditions in Britain were

very low people lived in cramped houses close together, which were a

large concern as this was main cause of ill health, and contributed to

the unemployment, as individuals could not work when they were in

sickness. The 1924 government was determined to reduce this poverty

and harsh living condit...

... middle of paper ...

...aintain an economic

equilibrium in Britain at this cruel time. This was the major reason

for the split in 1931. It was also not easy for the labour party when

they were branded as a communist party as they lost support, and gave

way for the conservative party to take over. MacDonald was alleged as

an unreliable, erratic prime minister and was a contribution to the

lack of achievements, however MacDonald is not exclusively to blame as

there was other state of affairs out of his control which also

contributed to the downfall and discontinued MacDonald as prime

minister. I consider the labour government as successful in achieving

some aspects of their aims but did not accomplish the criteria of

their principles, and their outlook towards governing Britain was

unreliable and showed MacDonald as an unskilled prime minister.

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