The Progressive Alliance and the Rise of Labour, 1903-1922 : Political Change in Industrial Britain

This book provides a detailed study of the politics of the Progressive Alliance at the constituency level from its inception in 1903 to collapse during the First World War. It evaluates the character, development and difficulties of progressive co-operation and considers the long-term viability of an electoral alliance between the Liberal and Labour parties. Samantha Wolstencroft provides an exhaustive analysis of political change in two of Britain’s major industrial centres, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, during a period that witnessed the decline of the Liberal Party and rise of Labour. She evaluates the difficulties faced by the early Labour Party in its attempt to attain a foothold within the political landscape, examines the impact of the experience of the First World War upon the political parties, and demonstrates the power of issues and the role of candidates in the transformation of electoral politics in Britain in the immediate aftermath of war. Preface 6 Acknowledgements 9 Contents 11 Abbreviations 13 List of Figures 14 Chapter 1: Introduction: Historians and the Decline of the Liberal Party 15 Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent: Historical Significance 31 Bibliography 44 Chapter 2: The Politics of the Progressive Alliance: Manchester Liberalism and the Emergence of Labour, 1906–1908 48 Bibliography 73 Chapter 3: The Viability of the Progressive Alliance: Electoral Politics in Manchester, 1910–1912 75 Bibliography 98 Chapter 4: Municipal Politics and the Progressive Alliance in Manchester, 1906–1914 100 Summary: Manchester, 1906–1914 108 Bibliography 112 Chapter 5: The Complexities of Progressive Cooperation: Lib-Labism and Electoral Politics in Stoke-on-Trent, 1903–1910 113 Bibliography 129 Chapter 6: A Fragile Alliance: The 1912 Hanley By-Election 130 Bibliography 146 Chapter 7: The Impact of War and the Collapse of the Progressive Alliance: Political Change in Manchester, 1918–1922 148 Bibliography 176 Chapter 8: Manchester’s Municipal Politics in the Aftermath of War and the 1922 General Election 178 Developments in Politics in Manchester 1918–1922: Summary 194 Bibliography 198 Chapter 9: The Politics of Change: The End of Lib-­Labism in Stoke-on-Trent, 1918–1921 199 Bibliography 216 Chapter 10: The Rise of Labour: The 1922 General Election in Stoke-on-Trent 218 Developments in Politics in Stoke-on-Trent 1918–1922: Summary 232 Bibliography 236 Chapter 11: Conclusion: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Alliance 238 Bibliography 247 Index 248 Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Introduction: Historians and the Decline of the Liberal Party (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 1-33 The Politics of the Progressive Alliance: Manchester Liberalism and the Emergence of Labour, 1906–1908 (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 35-61 The Viability of the Progressive Alliance: Electoral Politics in Manchester, 1910–1912 (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 63-87 Municipal Politics and the Progressive Alliance in Manchester, 1906–1914 (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 89-101 The Complexities of Progressive Cooperation: Lib-Labism and Electoral Politics in Stoke-on-Trent, 1903–1910 (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 103-119 A Fragile Alliance: The 1912 Hanley By-Election (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 121-138 The Impact of War and the Collapse of the Progressive Alliance: Political Change in Manchester, 1918–1922 (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 139-168 Manchester’s Municipal Politics in the Aftermath of War and the 1922 General Election (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 169-189 The Politics of Change: The End of Lib-Labism in Stoke-on-Trent, 1918–1921 (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 191-209 The Rise of Labour: The 1922 General Election in Stoke-on-Trent (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 211-230 Conclusion: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Alliance (Samantha Wolstencroft)....Pages 231-240 Back Matter ....Pages 241-247