Why did the General Strike of 1926 fail?

The Strikers in direct contrast had no real plans and were very disorganised. In this way they found themselves depending on local committees being set up. The first industries to be called up into the Strike were regarded as the important industries (i.e. Railway, Coal, Transport, Electricity, Iron and Steel etc) but agreed to call out other important industries later. In this way they were also helping the Government, as they had not called out all industries – leaving some in place to carry on as normal preventing problems that could have been caused. Another fatal mistake was also caused at this time as the Strikers had called out Printers. In this way they had no access to propaganda for the public and had no way to tell the public ‘their side’ of the strike. This was perhaps why support was lost during the second week.

Unlike the Strikers the Government did have access to propaganda through the BBC and through their paper the British Gazette. At this time it was through Government organisations that the public gained news of the strike but also gained the Governments reasons behind it. It was in this way the Government was able to direct the public against the Strikers, by portraying the strike as political and coerce the miners lost valuable support. By using the Law on their side the Government did perhaps also have another advantage over the miners. Of the 9,000 people arrested during the strike a large number were arrested for printing or distributing strike bulletins – once again preventing strikers from using propaganda (although they did eventually release their own paper the British Worker).

By the 7th of May Herbert Samuel approached the TUC to make suggestions to end the strike. He declared that:

• The Government subsidy should continue while negotiations took place.
• A National Minimum wage should be set by a national body.
• Miners that lost jobs due to pit closure would be found jobs elsewhere.

The TUC then accepted his suggestions however, the miners didn’t. It was this lack of communication and agreement that meant that the General Strike was called off. The miners had been provided with large amounts of ideas for negotiation however they refused leaving the Government with an opportunity to end the strike. This was perhaps the biggest reason that made the General Strike of 1926 fail.