ALAN RODEN
THE CONSERVATIVES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS
To what extent and for what reasons did the Conservative party become the party of the business interests 1867-1931?
The Conservative party had dominated the 19th Century, with their influence stretching over most of the policies implicated during that time. However, their political power seemed destined to remain in the wilderness following the Liberal's landslide in 1906 and the huge enfranchisement appeared to have finally engulfed the Tory aristocratic supporters. Instead, the party amassed a huge victory in 1922, and went on to shape the political life of the 20th Century as well. This would not have been possible if were not for a new class of supporters which came their way, most notably the business class.
The first thing we need to identify is why the business interests did not vote for the other parties. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the Liberals were dogged by problems, such as weak leadership, poor organisation, unpopular policies, the Home Rule crisis and many other equally disastrous dilemmas, which all led to lengthy periods in opposition. Following a huge process of enfranchisement, the upper class were no longer the only class wielding political power, and therefore it was expected that the Liberals would gain these new voters. However, historians have noted that there was a gradual shift of the middle classes away from the Liberals towards the Conservatives. This could already be discerned in 1868 and even more so in 1874, despite a weak business element of MPs and a large number of men still without access to the suffrage. Thus by 1885, the Conservatives and Liberals were level-pegging in the English boroughs. Liberal governments were proving unpopular and their policies, such as the 1891 Newcastle Programme, even more so. Professor Cornford explained that, "with the extension of the suffrage, class was becoming the most important single factor in deciding political allegiance."
The problem for the Liberal party in the 1890s, therefore, was to try and hold onto its middle-class supporters, whilst increasing its support amongst the new working-class voters. However, this proved impossible due to a certain degree of snobbery, and a desire from the business classes to be disassociated with the working classes, i.e. support the Conservatives instead. Another reason for the Liberal's lack of support was the Irish problem and the agricultural depression which caused much violence and crime, leading to a general increase in annoyance and thus Conservative voters. Commercial wealth now surpassed landed wealth, and their political party was the Tories. This was not helped by the decline of the Liberal party, which was more or less eroded by the 1920s and businessmen were not going to transfer their vote to Labour. The up and coming workers' party therefore failed to attract the business interest, more self-explanatory, due to the deep-rooted fear of Socialism. This was seen as ideology for the working classes, not the commercial element of society, and such revelations as Zinoviev's (fake) letters in 1924, led to a widespread eluding of any party other than the Conservatives.
THE CONSERVATIVES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS
To what extent and for what reasons did the Conservative party become the party of the business interests 1867-1931?
The Conservative party had dominated the 19th Century, with their influence stretching over most of the policies implicated during that time. However, their political power seemed destined to remain in the wilderness following the Liberal's landslide in 1906 and the huge enfranchisement appeared to have finally engulfed the Tory aristocratic supporters. Instead, the party amassed a huge victory in 1922, and went on to shape the political life of the 20th Century as well. This would not have been possible if were not for a new class of supporters which came their way, most notably the business class.
The first thing we need to identify is why the business interests did not vote for the other parties. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the Liberals were dogged by problems, such as weak leadership, poor organisation, unpopular policies, the Home Rule crisis and many other equally disastrous dilemmas, which all led to lengthy periods in opposition. Following a huge process of enfranchisement, the upper class were no longer the only class wielding political power, and therefore it was expected that the Liberals would gain these new voters. However, historians have noted that there was a gradual shift of the middle classes away from the Liberals towards the Conservatives. This could already be discerned in 1868 and even more so in 1874, despite a weak business element of MPs and a large number of men still without access to the suffrage. Thus by 1885, the Conservatives and Liberals were level-pegging in the English boroughs. Liberal governments were proving unpopular and their policies, such as the 1891 Newcastle Programme, even more so. Professor Cornford explained that, "with the extension of the suffrage, class was becoming the most important single factor in deciding political allegiance."
The problem for the Liberal party in the 1890s, therefore, was to try and hold onto its middle-class supporters, whilst increasing its support amongst the new working-class voters. However, this proved impossible due to a certain degree of snobbery, and a desire from the business classes to be disassociated with the working classes, i.e. support the Conservatives instead. Another reason for the Liberal's lack of support was the Irish problem and the agricultural depression which caused much violence and crime, leading to a general increase in annoyance and thus Conservative voters. Commercial wealth now surpassed landed wealth, and their political party was the Tories. This was not helped by the decline of the Liberal party, which was more or less eroded by the 1920s and businessmen were not going to transfer their vote to Labour. The up and coming workers' party therefore failed to attract the business interest, more self-explanatory, due to the deep-rooted fear of Socialism. This was seen as ideology for the working classes, not the commercial element of society, and such revelations as Zinoviev's (fake) letters in 1924, led to a widespread eluding of any party other than the Conservatives.
