Reasons For Liberal Reforms

2260 Words10 Pages
“How far was concern over Booth and Rowntree’s findings the real reason for the Liberal reforms between 1906 and 1914?” By the early twentieth century the Liberal Government was concerned that Britain was losing her status as a major industrial and military power. The reports of Booth and Rowntree found that 1/3 of the British population lived in poverty. It suggested that this was a main factor effecting employment, education, disease, life expectancy and more. This could be argued to be the main reason that evoked a sense of urgency for change from the people and the liberal Government. However, other reasons also played a part. Concern over national security also played a part in persuading the Government that reforms were needed. It could be argued that British politics almost revolved around national efficiency and responding to the industrial and economical threat of Germany and America consequently leading to the reforms. The new Labour party promised social reforms and the Liberals were worried about losing votes. The Liberals knew they had to find a way of keeping the working class votes. Reform could therefore be seen as a rather selfish, politically advantageous response to political change. Changing attitudes within the party, summed up as New Liberalism were influential in promoting change and the example of Municipal socialism encouraged Liberal politicians towards national reforms is also holds water as a very influential factor. Many Historians still believe that the reforms were introduced due to genuine concern over the poor after Rowntree and Booth’s discoveries. Their discoveries were startling and unsuspected. Poverty in London had been discovered and publicised by Booth in 1889 in his book “Life and Labour of the People in London” where he produced revealing findings through a series of volumes up to 1903. He raised the idea of poverty
Open Document