OCR Specification focus:
‘The development of the Labour Party and its Constitution of 1918; the role of women in the war, and the extension of the franchise in 1918.’
The period from 1914 to 1918 transformed British society, politics, and gender relations, culminating in Labour’s rise, women’s enfranchisement, and a landmark extension of the democratic franchise.
The Development of the Labour Party
Labour before 1914
Before the First World War, the Labour Party was still a relatively small force, largely reliant on its links with the Trade Union movement. It sought to represent the working-class electorate but remained overshadowed by the Liberals, who were seen as the main progressive party.
Impact of the First World War
The war acted as a catalyst for Labour’s growth:
Union involvement in government: Trade Union leaders were brought into wartime administration through the Ministry of Munitions, giving Labour unprecedented political influence.
Split in the Liberals: The division between Asquith and Lloyd George weakened the Liberal Party, creating space for Labour to emerge as the voice of reform.
Changing political climate: Issues of workers’ rights, wages, and social justice gained urgency during wartime economic pressures.
Labour’s Constitution of 1918
In 1918, the party redefined itself with a modern constitution, drafted largely by Sidney Webb.
Labour Constitution of 1918: The document that gave Labour a clear socialist identity, replacing reliance on unions alone with a vision of parliamentary socialism.
The constitution included:
Clause IV: Commitment to common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.
Democratic structure: Broadened party membership beyond unions to individual members.
Parliamentary focus: Positioned Labour as a national party capable of government, not merely a pressure group.
This marked Labour’s transition into a major political party, paving the way for it to supplant the Liberals.
The Role of Women in the War
Women’s Wartime Contribution
The First World War transformed women’s roles:
Industrial work: Women entered munitions factories, engineering, and transport, undertaking jobs previously reserved for men.
Public service: They worked in nursing, clerical positions, and auxiliary military services.
Agriculture: The Women’s Land Army supported food production during shortages.
Women’s wartime economic contribution was most visible in munitions work, a hazardous, high-skill sector central to sustaining Britain’s armies.
Female munitions workers at a Vickers factory, May 1917. The image illustrates scale, skill, and risk in shell production, a key driver of shifting attitudes to female citizenship. It visually anchors the connection OCR expects students to make between wartime roles and debates about the franchise. Source
Women’s Land Army: An organisation formed to recruit women to work on farms during the First World War, ensuring continuity of food supply.
The Women’s Land Army helped safeguard food supplies and showcased women’s capacity for demanding industrial and agricultural work.
Three members of the Women’s Land Army pose with tools raised in salute, 1915–18. The photograph captures uniform, equipment, and morale, and underpins arguments about national efficiency and shifting social expectations. Minor details (e.g., exact location) exceed syllabus requirements but do not distract from the core message. Source
Shifts in Public Perception
The war changed attitudes towards women:
Their patriotism and service disproved claims of female weakness.
Even opponents of suffrage acknowledged that women had proven their citizenship credentials.
Crucially, the case for women’s rights was now linked to national survival and sacrifice rather than abstract principles.
The Extension of the Franchise in 1918
The Representation of the People Act 1918
The Representation of the People Act was the most significant reform of the franchise since 1832.
Representation of the People Act 1918: Legislation that massively expanded the British electorate, granting the vote to all men over 21 and many women for the first time.
Key provisions:
Men’s suffrage: All men aged 21 and over gained the vote, including soldiers returning from the war.
Women’s suffrage: Women over 30 who met property qualifications were enfranchised. This included about 8.4 million women.
Electorate expansion: The total electorate tripled from about 7.7 million to 21.4 million.
Motivations for Reform
Reward for service: Soldiers’ sacrifices demanded recognition through the vote.
Political necessity: The pre-war franchise was outdated, excluding many working men who had fought.
Stability: Enfranchising women and returning soldiers was seen as a way to prevent unrest after the war.
Limitations and Criticisms
The vote for women was restricted by age and property qualifications, excluding younger working women who had contributed heavily to the war effort.
It was viewed by many suffragists as a partial victory rather than full equality.
Social Change Linked to Reform
Impact on Women
Gaining the vote signalled formal recognition of women as citizens with political rights.
The reform encouraged greater female involvement in politics, with women beginning to stand as candidates.
However, true political equality would not come until the Equal Franchise Act of 1928, which granted women the vote on the same terms as men.
Impact on Party Politics
Labour, with its 1918 constitution, was now able to appeal to the newly enlarged electorate, particularly the working class.
The Liberals, weakened by division and loss of working-class support, entered long-term decline.
The Conservatives adapted by targeting women voters, often appealing to themes of stability, family, and Empire.
Broader Social Shifts
The war and reform accelerated the decline of Victorian values of hierarchy and deference.
Society became more democratic, meritocratic, and politically engaged, with mass parties replacing elite-driven politics.
The combination of Labour’s rise, women’s enfranchisement, and the extension of democracy in 1918 marked a decisive turning point in British political and social history.
FAQ
The age limit was chosen to prevent women from outnumbering men in the electorate after wartime deaths. Politicians feared that granting the vote to younger women would unbalance the system and potentially radicalise politics.
By setting the bar at 30 and attaching property or marital qualifications, Parliament ensured the newly enfranchised female electorate remained more middle-class and conservative in outlook.
The Act tripled the electorate, with most of the growth coming from:
Working-class men over 21, many of them ex-soldiers.
Women over 30 meeting property qualifications.
This expansion made mass politics unavoidable. Parties had to modernise organisation, communication, and policy platforms to appeal to millions of new voters rather than traditional elites.
Before 1914, critics claimed women lacked the rationality or experience for political participation.
The First World War undermined these views:
Women took up dangerous, highly skilled work in munitions.
Many filled public service roles, showing administrative and organisational ability.
Their contribution was framed as patriotic sacrifice, aligning with citizenship duties expected of men.
The enlarged electorate worked against the Liberals.
Working-class men, previously Liberal supporters, increasingly shifted to Labour, which offered stronger representation of industrial and social concerns.
Liberal divisions between Asquith and Lloyd George meant they struggled to present a united front to new voters.
The Act thus accelerated the decline of the Liberals and the transition to a Conservative–Labour two-party system.
Though not yet equal with men, women could now:
Vote in general elections from December 1918.
Stand as parliamentary candidates due to the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918.
The first female MP elected was Constance Markievicz (Sinn Féin), though she did not take her seat. The first to sit in Parliament was Nancy Astor in 1919, showing women could quickly gain representation.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which year was the Representation of the People Act that first gave some women the vote passed?
Mark Scheme
1 mark for correct identification of the Act as the Representation of the People Act.
1 mark for correctly giving the year as 1918.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why the Labour Party’s 1918 Constitution was significant for British politics.
Mark Scheme
Award up to 3 marks for each explanation. Credit the following points (other valid responses possible):
Clause IV and socialist identity:
1 mark for identifying that the Constitution contained Clause IV.
1 mark for explaining that it committed Labour to common ownership of industry.
1 mark for showing why this mattered, e.g. it gave Labour a distinct ideological position from the Liberals.
Broadening the party’s structure:
1 mark for identifying that the Constitution allowed for individual membership as well as union affiliation.
1 mark for explaining that this widened Labour’s base of support.
1 mark for showing why this was significant, e.g. enabled Labour to become a national party capable of forming a government.
Maximum 6 marks.
