Following the 1918 election, how would the full Tory government's policies?

Thomas1195

Banned
Assume that the Liberal party unified in 1918 election and lost, how would the Tory government's policies on the following issues?
- Russian Civil War
- Versailles
- Unemployment
- Homes fit for heroes (housing)
- Chanak
- WNT

One thing I am sure is that they would repeal the Land tax introduced in 1909. Also, I think that they would cut spending balance the budget. Some form of Imperial Preference would be introduced as an extension of McKenna duties like IOTL.
 

Deleted member 94680

Assume that the Liberal party unified in 1918 election and lost, how would the Tory government's policies on the following issues?
- Russian Civil War
- Chanak
- Versailles
- WNT

I imagine these will all largely go as OTL as they were in most cases dictated by the state of Britain's finances post-WWI. Churchill aside, there was no real impetus to increase Britain's involvement in the RCW, so I can't see the Tories girding their loins to charge into the steppes. Chanak was the result of Conservative MPs withdrawing support from the Liberal government, so a Tory government would probably go OTL on that basis alone. Versailles, tough one but I imagine the Tory hawks would be cancelled out by the Tories sick and tired of the War and those wanting to rebuild as soon as possible. The two added together would probably end up somewhere the same as OTL. The WNT was financial reality biting hard and the desire not to lose the Americans as a friendly power - maybe the same results, but a different spin on them? "Look what's been forced on us!" as opposed to "Look what we've achieved!"

- Unemployment
- Homes fit for heroes (housing)

Tories commited to slum clearances, so maybe as OTL but private companies building the houses instead of government spending?

- The Irish Question

Harder line by the government, longer War against Irish Independence - maybe the Regular Army deployed instead of the Black and Tans? Does this mean less indiscriminate shootings, more large scale actions? I'm not sure, but I can't see anything other than Irish independence in the end - maybe even with a smaller Ulster at the end of it.


One thing I am sure is that they would repeal the Land tax introduced in 1909. Also, I think that they would cut spending balance the budget. Some form of Imperial Preference would be introduced as an extension of McKenna duties like IOTL.

Imperial preference is a good shout, but once again what are the financial constraints that force British action, no matter the colour of the Government?


TBH, I think the majority of these will be OTL, simply because Britain had no other choice. She was broke, the Army wanted to go home and the trade system that supported her was in dire need of repair.
 

Thomas1195

Banned
Versailles, tough one but I imagine the Tory hawks would be cancelled out by the Tories sick and tired of the War and those wanting to rebuild as soon as possible. The two added together would probably end up somewhere the same as OTL.
A number of realist Tories, like Balfour, opposed the partition of Austro-Hungarian Empire because they wanted them to act as a counterbalance against Germany, but this was against Wilson's Fourteen Points. If Versailles goes as OTL, and worse, the Tories let A-H got away without being partitioned, they could be attacked at the next election for this. Note that ITTL, Lloyd George would still campaign for hanging the Kaiser in the coupon election like IOTL, and they would attack the Tories for being too soft if all the two things above happen. If Versailles just completely goes as OTL, the Tories could be attacked for either being too soft or too cruel.

Tories commited to slum clearances, so maybe as OTL but private companies building the houses instead of government spending?
Private sector would not do much during a recession. So the government would have to spend initially. However, they would have to introduce Geddes Axe, which IOTL effectively repealed many reforms as well as stalled the housebuilding program, due to pressure from the Anti-Waste League. They would be attacked for this.

Harder line by the government, longer War against Irish Independence - maybe the Regular Army deployed instead of the Black and Tans? Does this mean less indiscriminate shootings, more large scale actions? I'm not sure, but I can't see anything other than Irish independence in the end - maybe even with a smaller Ulster at the end of it.
For Irish question, the opposing parties would still attaçk them for failing to stop the civil war, no matter how well they did during the war.

In addition, IOTL there was a major programme of social reforms introduced by LG and his Liberal wing (notably Fisher and Addison). ITTL, many of them would be butterflied away.

Finally, the old question of free trade.

Overall, any kind of government during this period would face loads of obstacles in the following election. But for the Tories, effort to realize Imperial Preference and maybe, lack of reforms, would make their position become harder to protect.
Note that ITTL, the 1918 election could be quite close, if LG lead the Liberals and campaign for "A Land fits for Heroes" and "hanging the Kaiser", both of which would attract lots of votes, so the 1923 election (no Chanak means the next election would be in 1923) would be hell a lot tougher for Tory than IOTL.
 
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