National Government (United Kingdom) - The Early Days

The Early Days

The Government was initially applauded by most, but the Labour Party were left in a state of confusion with the loss of several of their most prominent figures, and MacDonald, Philip Snowden and James Henry Thomas did little to explain themselves, with the result that the Labour Party soon swung fully against the government. Efforts to bring public expenditure cuts produced further problems, including a mutiny in the Royal Navy over pay cuts, with the result that the Pound came under renewed pressure and the government was forced to take the radical step of taking the Pound off the Gold Standard altogether.

Debate now broke out about further steps to tackle the economic problems, while at the same time the Labour Party officially expelled all of its members who supported the National Government, including MacDonald. Increasingly the majority of the Cabinet came to believe that a protective tariff was necessary to support British industry and provide revenue, and that a general election should be fought to secure a mandate for this but this was anathema to the Liberal Party. The Liberals' acting leader and Home Secretary Sir Herbert Samuel fought in Cabinet against an election but found the Liberal party dividing in several directions over the course of action. One group under Sir John Simon emerged as the Liberal Nationals who were prepared to accept the tariff and expressed willingness to take the place of the main Liberals in the government. The party's official leader, David Lloyd George was incapacitated at this time but called for the Liberals to abandon the government altogether and stand independently in defence of Free Trade but this call was heeded only by four other MPs, all related to him.

It was eventually agreed that the government as a whole would seek a "Doctor's Mandate" to take a free hand and that each party would issue its own manifesto. Supporters of MacDonald formed National Labour and the parties agreed to allow their local organisations to agree whether or not to oppose each other. The government was opposed by the Labour Party, Lloyd George and his Liberals and the New Party of Sir Oswald Mosley, while within the parties there was particular conflict between the Conservatives and Liberals. The result of the 1931 general election was the greatest landslide ever, with the National Government winning a total of 556 seats and a Parliamentary majority of 500.