ABSTRACT
The Labour Government which took office in June, 1929, consisted largely of the same persons as had held leading positions in its predecessor of 1924. If there was a difference between the first and second Labour Governments, it lay mainly in the exclusion of the I.L.P. leaders, Wheatley and Fred Jowett; for Wheatley had been a leading figure in the 1924 Cabinet and had been responsible for its outstanding legislative success. The second Labour Government took office without any understanding with either of the other parties, but of course in dependence on some Liberal or Tory votes to maintain it in power. Ramsay MacDonald invited both Tories and Liberals to confer with him on the measures that could be taken to meet the crisis. The Tories at once began to press for a tariff and to demand a General Election which, they were convinced, would give them a clear majority and enable them to put their own policy into effect.
