‘Opposition Parties Don’t Win General Elections, Government Lose Them’ How Valid Is This View in Relation to the 1906 British General Election?

As well as labour disunity there are other factors to consider as to why conservatives dominated. Firstly, the reorganisation of the party machine led by Lord Woolton after the dislocation caused by the war and the shock defeat for the conservatives in 1946 proved pivotal for the conservatives in improving their ideas (new conservatives with new ideas) and general organisation.

Secondly, as Wilson faced crises in the failure of Trade Union reform and a stagnant economy, the Tories moved steadily to the right, many seeing this as a successful move by Heath. The move to the right got a massive publicity boost in Selsdon Park Hotel at a shadow cabinet meeting (January 1970) in the run-up to the election. In the public eye, the term ‘Selsdon Man’ (a phrase readily clutched by the media) meant a return to free enterprise -which directly contrasted Wilson’s policies of interventionism - the return to the values of hard work, trade union reform and a more efficient and independent industry. These ideas, although not particularly revolutionary in terms of policy for Tories, in election year provided a real incentive to frustrated voters, who looked at the struggling Wilson government whose interventionist policies were having little upswing effect on the economy. Many see the conference as an end of consensus politics, and the start of a marathon political battle between the two leaders. The fact that the Tories gained such publicity at Selsdon, and managed to convince the electorate that contrasting policies to the labour government such as the move to a more free market economy was necessary, showed Heath to be a successful leader in the outset of his campaign.

During the Progressive Era, Americans faced the challenge of choosing between four strong candidates of the election of 1912. Each candidate held concrete platforms that would have different effects on progressivism. Americans could chose the conservative presidential incumbent William Howard Taft(R), the New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson (D), the long-time fighter for social reform-Eugene V. Debs (S), or the former president Theodore Roosevelt of the newly formed Bull Moose Party (Progressive Party). Through this election many steps were taken to change the face of the election

As the war dragged on, it affected American society at nearly every level. It shook up

However, Balfour cannot be solely to blame for the decline in popularity from the Conservative party. A key issue in the defeat of the Conservative party was Tariff reform discussed previously, although Balfour cannot be blamed for this issue as it was Chamberlain in favour of the reform and was the one that put it into place, therefore it was his responsibility for the split of the Conservative party, not Balfour's.

The 1906 UK general election was a shock event in British politics when the Liberal party not only beat the Conservative party but gained an unprecedented amount of their seats in Parliament. The Two main reasons for the Conservative loss , the 1902 Education Act and Tariff Reform, were both acts by the Conservatives themselves. Alongside these two reasons, the Liberal party also had a very successful opposition campaign which possibly could have won them the election on its own.

Canada in the 1930s was in a state of economic depression and the people, notably living in the west, were finding it difficult to secure a source of income. R.B. Bennett was elected as Prime Minister by Canadians in 1930 on the basis that he would end unemployment, but by 1932 his government was seemingly overwhelmed by the persistence of the Depression and was becoming

With the Fusion party being active, the Election of 1896 was different than any election before in North Carolina. For the first time since Reconstruction, a Republican governor was elected, Daniel Russell. Russell was a leader of the Fusion party and won the state election with 46.57% of the vote, beating out the Democratic candidate, Cyrus B. Watson. Daniel Russell was raised in a family with unusual political beliefs, including an opposition to secession during the years of the Civil War. Russell gained an interest in politics, joined the Fusion party and ran for governor, known as a man who advocated for the rights of blacks. Cyrus Watson was raised in North Carolina and fought in the confederate army during the Civil War, he was the

During the Progressive Era, Americans faced the challenge of choosing between four strong candidates of the election of 1912. Each candidate held concrete platforms that would have different effects on progressivism. Americans could chose the conservative presidential incumbent William Howard Taft(R), the New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson (D), the long-time fighter for social reform-Eugene V. Debs (S), or the former president Theodore Roosevelt of the newly formed Bull Moose Party (Progressive Party). Through this election many steps were taken to change the face of the election season, including women's rights, primaries, and third

The war brought a return of prosperity and ended the Great Depression. (Winkler,1986) It also promoted the growth of big industrial business and strengthen military industrial links. (Winkler,1986) Women around the country were transformed from the average house wife into a person with a voice and most importantly a purpose. They contributed into the war effort and changed the way society viewed them. “The war was a vehicle for lasting social and economic gains.” (Winkler,1986) As the war ended, the United States of American came to be known as a powerful

In fact, the United States had enjoyed an extended period of economic expansion during the war, and following the war the U.S. economy continued with great strength for more than a decade. Life in America, consequently, was arguably better than it had ever been. The middle class had swelled, unemployment rates were some of the lowest in history, and the “American Dream” was for many families a reality.

At the end of World War One in November 1918 the Labour Party emerged as a strong political Party. Prior to this it was the Liberal Party that was expected to be the main opposition to the Conservatives, with Labour as a party who used the popularity of the Liberals to become noticed. However, it soon became apparent that the Liberals were a weak and flagging party who were unable to unite as one to make decisions. It is evident that the First World War may have been an important factor in the growth of Labour and the decline of the Liberals.

This lack of support became apparent in the 1906 general election in which the Conservative government (Whom had been in control of the Empire during the Boer War.) was ousted in a landslide defeat by the Liberal party. This was mainly because of the war and the effects it had on Britain. The public had been outraged at British tactics during the Second Boer War. Especially that of concentration camps, scorched earth tactics, the poisoning of wells and the burning of Boer homesteads. Therefore, the transition from a conventional to a guerrilla war caused a loss in enthusiasm amongst the British people for the Second Boer war.

The Boer War was a conflict that lasted from 1899 to 1902 in southern Africa between Great Britain and their allies, Transvaal (South African Republic) and Orange Free State, in what is now South Africa.

Indeed the labour party had grown stronger during the coalition by promising the people reforms once the war would be over. These ideas were promoted through effective propaganda, particularly on the home front, which promised the nationalisation of industry, better housing, free medical services and employment for all. On the other hand, the conservative party was not in favour of these reforms: for instance Churchill completely ignored the Beveridge Report, a manifesto of social reforms, and focused on conducting the war instead. These promised reforms caused the labour party’s popularity to increase as citizens hoped for a better future which in turn weakened the conservative party. Furthermore, Churchill’s confidence and unawareness of this powerful opposition allowed the labour party to further develop. Churchill had never fallen below 78 per cent in the approval rating in the opinion polls: consequently the prime minister did not organise his election campaign strategy appropriately which once again allowed the opposing party to strengthen. Thus the forceful labour party was able to win a landslide victory against the unprepared