ABSTRACT
Up to 1906, when the Trade Disputes Act became law, industrial action was paralysed by the Taff Vale Judgment. Thereafter, in face of rising prices and rapidly increasing capitalist profits, industrial unrest developed apace. But the leaders of the Labour Party frowned upon strikes, and endeavoured to persuade the workers that their hopes should be set rather upon industrial and social reforms to be secured by legislation. In 1909 Mr. Lloyd George introduced his ‘Henroost’ Budget, imposing special taxes on land values. When this was thrown out by the House of Lords, there ensued the struggle which, after two General Elections in a single year, ended in the passing of the Parliament Act of 1911. The railwaymen had advanced an ‘all-grades’ programme’ in 1907, including both advances upon their exceedingly low wages and recognition of their Unions, with which the railway companies entirely refused to deal.
