Motivation of the Liberal Reforms

• public/government attitudes toward poverty and how to help the poor
• before, "laissez faire"

Philanthropy strong theme but government intervention

• C. Cross
• "shocking reports of Rowntree"

• investigations revealed true, unsuspected levels of poverty
• Booth 35% London extreme poverty

• worse than socialists claimed - poverty was a huge problem
• Rowntree 30% York

poverty was a national, widespread problem

• Potential social revolution imminent
• R&B provided evidence politicians couldn't ignore

• 1884 most working class men had the vote - attract
• offering progressive social reforms, chance to seize power

1906 newly formed Labour competing for votes

P.Thane "fear of Labour"

chance to retain working class votes

• last in power in 1886
• desperate
• thus, not passed due to genuine concern

• 1899 Boer War 25% volunteer recruits physical unfit
• could Britain survive a War? Protect Empire?

de Groot "politicians panicked"

1904 reports recommended the provision of school meals/medical inspections

first reforms passed

not enough to influence whole set of reforms

• no longer leading industrial nation - Germany competing
• Health and Eduation worsened - Britains industrial power threatened

opened labour exchanges to minimise unemployment as was Churchills advice

de Groot "more important than concern over poor"

• labour exchanges only a small part of reforms
• Britain still powerful and wealthy
• concerns over poverty revealed the extent of hardship

• Old Liberalists - poverty due to defects of character
• New Liberalists - poverty imposed restrictions of choices available

When New Liberalists Churchill and Lloyd George appointed - flood of social reforms

• new liberalists not important in 1905 election campaign
• no mention of social reform in manifesto

great disagreements as to extent of reform

• Germany already had a system of welfare benefits and pensions
• Gave the Gov something to think about

• had no other countries to compare t to
• Britain and Germany not identical