Liberalism was always been about freedom and Liberals were frequently changing their minds about the type of freedom they wanted. T.H Green, an active member of the Liberal Party developed his idea about ‘positive freedom’. New Liberalism thinking was extremely relevant to the Liberals around 1900 as they become more familiar of the actions that the government could carry out in order to attract the working- class electors. T.H Greens theory of ‘positive freedom’ allowed help for people to become free. Individuals may need strengthening to achieve freedom and happiness and this would only be achieved by the state and other in the community contributing help.
The ideas of positive liberty and community had an important influence on a minority of Liberal ministers. They do not seem to have won the Liberal Party as a whole but influenced several into power.
The New Liberalism in practice showed how positive liberty meant that people needed more than freedom from restrictions. Churchill quoted ‘trade was free. But hunger and squalor and cold were also free and the people demanded something more than liberty”. The state had to help people who did not have adequate opportunities providing a minimum standard of living. The money that was required for the reforms came from tariffs and progressive taxation. The reforms which were introduced showed New Liberalism as the role of the government helped people supporting positive freedom.
OLD AGE PENSIONS RELATE TO NEW LIVERALISM – NEEDED A MINIMUM OF LIVING AND THE STATE MUST PROVIDE THIS.
SCHOOL MEANS THE STATE MUST HELP PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES
Reason 4
Reason 5
HOW EFFECTIVE WERE THE LIBERAL REFORMS IN 1906-14???????????????????
The first significant measure helped child welfare. This was because children’s health and well-being were vital to national efficiency. The 1906 Introduction of School Meals came from a Labour MP who proposed this reform to become a compulsory provision. This permissive step would offer free school meals to children belonging to poor parents. For the first time, their parents could receive benefits without being labelled as paupers and losing their right to vote. The introduction of this reform was effective as by 1913, 40 percent of the councils running schools provided meals and 310, 000 children received them free. In 1914, the reform was made compulsory.
Robert Morrant, the Permanent Secretary at the Board of Education who was passionate about national efficiency, proposed the 1907 Medical Inspections for Children. Local council had to make the inspections, however did not have to do anything about what they discovered. Not all councils acted upon the problem they discovered, but many did. Over two thirds were providing some kinds of medical treatment by 1914.
The Liberals added very little to the 1902 Education Act which had already reformed the administration of elementary schools and extended secondary schools. The 1907 Act contained a quarter of secondary school places were available for poorer children from elementary schools if they passed the necessary exams. National Efficiency improved this by graduating more educated children.
The 1908 Children’s Act was the beginning of state child protection. The act obliges well with ‘New Liberalism’ and Liberals were keen on equality of rights and children, as this was basic Liberal thinking. The 1908 Children’s Act protected children against violence or neglect by their parents and the local councils had the responsibility to check up on this.
Elders were worried about having to inquire about poor relief as they didn’t want to face the humiliation involved. The discussion of pensions was a high political issue. Joseph Chamberlain campaigned for pensions in the 1800s. Charles Booth, who carried out a survey of the poor of London’s East End, founded the National Conference of Organised Labour for the Promotion of Old Age Pensions in 1898. The Labour Party and Trade Unions provided strong support. The Friendly Societies had opposed pensions as they did not want completion. However, more were ready to accept them by 1908 as they did not have enough money to pay lots of benefits to old people who were unable to work. The terms of the Act received finance by the government from taxation and went only to people over 70. Elders received only five shillings a week and the pension was not allowed to be appointed to elders who ‘habitually failed at work according to his ability, opportunity and need’. However, although pensions were a benefit to thousands, the amount of 5 shillings in which elders were given, was lower than the prediction of 7 shillings a week in which Rowntree implied was efficient to support an individual living alone. The 5 shilling budget was too small to support any family. Pensions were financed by taxation and were only paid to people over 70. This limited elders pensions as many did not live to 70, therefore, not being able to claim their pensions. Only 45 percent of those over 70 received the pensions which was a similar proportion to those claiming poor relief before the Act. Old people received their pensions as a right providing them independence and the 1908 Old Age Pensions Act did improve old people’s lifestyle, being a popular introduction by the government. However, pensions were expensive and led to the tax increase 1909 budget.
There were many arguments about the Old Age Pensions. Flora Thompson recorded the effect they had on pensioners and expressed how they were ‘relieved of anxiety’ becoming ‘suddenly rich’. This shows how the pensions suddenly removed the dominant fear in which elders faced and how they instantly felt rich, gaining personal independence.
George Cadbury, who campaigned for pensions argued in favour in 1899 expressing how pensions would ‘promote thrift’. This allows elders to manage their own personal money carefully, avoiding wasting the funds on unimportant items.
However, others felt elders would experience danger and degrading possibilities of the pensions scheme. This implies how opinions varied some expressing workers should have been payed higher wages so workers could have saved for their pensions to enjoy in the future.
Thousands of people depended upon the government for various different provisions in changing their lives. Many people became strong supporters of those whom obtained their privileges. This shows how thousands were referred to as ‘puppets’, as the government were in full control of acts that could affect their lifestyles.