There was a greater build up in Britain's level of unemployment in depressed areas than could be found in, for instance, Germany or the U.S.A. However, Britain’s’ unemployed were helped through measures of relief for the unemployed. Workers, government, and business paid taxes to give unemployed workers a benefit that was of a higher level than most regular pay before World War One. This diminished the worst effects of poverty and meant that the majority of people in British society had a roof over their head and were not starving to death. However, there was still conflict in the country as taxpayers grumbled at the amount they had to pay to fund the unemployed. Some of the unemployed also criticised funds because it meant that they had to be means tested on whether they were eligible for it or not. This meant that officers of state came and pried into family details and homes, which was felt to be humiliating. Although not all were eligible for the unemployment funds, for example, school leavers, many workers were better off and poverty was reduced.
The way in which people dealt with unemployment was varied. There was a great deal of unity between the public. People carried on their normal lives and did not let the depression overrule their lives. These people lowered their living standards in order to live a hassle free life. Indeed, there was action taken, most notably the Jarrow to London march, as well as increased industrial action in 1931 and 1932. As well as this there was a small increase in the membership of the British Communist Party and short-lived support for "Moseley's" Fascist Party, particularly in the East End of London. But on the whole, these actions were only gestures, and never really involved the majority of the British public.
The working class did not respond to long-term unemployment with fatalism. With lack of help from the government parties, working class communities sustained themselves through the depression by creating a new culture. This new culture involved new hobbies, gambling at the "bookies" and watching and participating in sport. This was because there was no legitimate way for the working class to enter politics. This is backed up by evidence to prove that neither of the two major political parties had the unemployment problems as their top priorities. For example, under the first Labour administration of Ramsay Macdonald, unemployment benefit was actually cut by 10%. Also, with such high rates of unemployment, people said that the effect resulted in a workforce that worked harder. If a worker failed to do his job properly he knew there was ten, perhaps even one hundred who would readily and willingly take his job, for less pay.
Religion was also another factor that impacted on the depression. In strongly Catholic areas such as Jarrow, Catholicism taught that unemployment was something that had to happen and this resulted in acceptance from the people, not radicalism. In politics too, the working class had affection with the Conservative Party. To many, the Tory party were seen as the natural party of government who represented King and Empire, law and order and low taxation.
The severity of the impact the depression had on British Society in 1930’s is variable. We must understand that the majority of the working class in the 1930's did see some improvements in their living conditions. The “slump” had more than one face. In fact, while poverty and hardship did remain, particularly in the old England of the Industrial Revolution and the traditional staple industries, the great majority of the population saw a significant improvement in living standards by the end of the 1930's. This was due to the emergence of a new, modern England that boomed producing motorcars, new houses and new service industries. Most displaced workers managed to sustain themselves by working in the "black market", reading books and papers from local libraries, going to the cinema and continuing habits and aspects of working class life. The government’s interference in to the unemployed peoples lives, such as the means test where they invaded their privacy, was loathed and led to a growing mistrust of the government. In conclusion, the working class despite their position remained proud, and with their neighbours and colleagues also on the dole, the pain of unemployment was in eased by the knowledge that they were not alone.
