How far did the problems facing Balfour's government contribute to its defeat in the 1906 election?

the election the outcome may have been very different.  The first main problem was that Balfour was not a popular figurehead for the conservative party.  He was seen as indifferent and this reflected on the conservative party.  He gave the conservatives a boring image that the majority of the population especially the working class did not like.  As the working class represented the largest population in Britain this would mean that the conservatives would be losing out on a majority of votes.  The second problem that Balfour can lay blame not only to himself but also to the past conservative government was his incompetence to deal with growing social problems.  There had been no social reform for twenty years and this was becoming increasingly unacceptable.  Awareness was to the unacceptable rule of the country was becoming more apparent to the working class as a socialist movement took place during the end of the 19th century with the appearance of radical socialist groups such as the Fabian society and SDF.  IT was thought unacceptable that Britain could spend in excess on its navy and empire yet in Britain one in three lived at or below the poverty line.  Had Balfour dealt with the ongoing social reform he would have won favour among the working class who instead look for an escape from poverty through radical socialist groups and liberal thinking.  The third problem lay in the actions of the government, which had left them isolated in the world and had tarnished its image.  The first horrific action was the Boer War, the inhuman conditions of the concentration camps and the cruelty towards the natives had portrayed the government as barbaric.  Also many questioned why Balfour should put money into fighting abroad whilst there were still many social problems in Britain.  The involvement of the Chinese “slavery” affair caused a storm of protest from both socialists and trade unions, which they would hold as a gift against the conservative government. Balfour loss more popularity due to his legislations, his Education act of 1902 disappointed many non conformists who wanted to see the scrapping of Anglican or catholic schools.  To further agitate a nation who was not best pleased with the conservatives, Joe Chamberlain brought on the tariff reform.  Chamberlain was Colonial Secretary and was not tory but liberal unionist, however his decision to bring back tariffs was a slap across the face of British history as they had managed successfully without tariffs for over 80 years.  Whilst Balfour was not responsible for this reform it would become a dominant theme in politics to an extent that by 1905 Balfour was completely boxed in over the issue hew would resign in December 1905, without calling for a general election.  The king assigned a minority liberal government, which Balfour hoped would fail due to split over decisions over the empires future. However the leader Campbell Bannerman kept good control and when maintained this hold for the 1906 elections.  However blame cannot be singularly laid on Balfour’s problems for the conservative demise, there were many aspects beyond Balfour’s control.  The conservative party had been in power for coming on ten years, and as is usual for a party to be in power too long the country lost interest in them.  The country had grown tired of the conservative party and longed for change, and as some grew tired of the conservative party they sought elsewhere casting their vote for other parties.  It was a time of social reform Balfour had no power of repressing this and did little to embrace it.  This social reform would lead to the rise and interest in other parties that supported and sympathised with the working class. Balfour could not stop the grow interest in the liberal party and other socialist parties.  The results of 1906 elections show that the conservatives did not loose many votes but the liberal gained landside results largely due to the first past the post policy.     By 1906 Balfour was faced with many problems, which mostly stemmed from the extremity of poverty growing self-awareness of social inequalities. Balfour himself didn’t win over much favour due to his poor decisions over both the Boer War and Chinese slavery affair and his unappealing personality. However these problems could not wholly be held responsible for his landslide defeat in 1906, the social reform and growing popularity of liberal and socialist thought would detain votes from Balfour.  Whilst the conservatives prolonged service in government would lose the interest and vote of voters who grew bored of the way conservatives ran the country.