General Election 1906 and Unionist Defeat

When Arthur Balfour resigned as PM, he refused to dissolve parliament by the king. This meant that HCB would be sent to invite Balfour to form a new government. Balfour hoped this would cause a crisis in the liberals meaning the unionists would win another general election. He believed this would occur because
- HCB was leader, and balfour believed that the likes of Grey and Asquith would not accept his new premiership and him being the leader, and so the liberals would not be able to form a new government.
- The unionists had done better than expected at recent by-elections, and attempted to undermine them using the above reason
- The split the liberals over the issue of home rule

However this did not work as HCB found no problems with Asquith and Grey, as they were not willing to risk holding office when HCB was in bad health. Asquith took chancellor of exchequer and Grey became foreign secretary. The formation led to a landslide victory for the liberals.

The unionists were defeated for a number of reasons
- British were opposed to Boer war with Chinese slavery and concentration camps and the war lasting far longer and costing way more. Conservatives looked imperial
- Raised questions of British fitness which looked bad for the conservatives (2/3 turned down)
- Unionists were still severely divided over tariff reform, and some splitting off to join the liberals, such as Winston Churchill and JC resigning full time. Also the liberals looked like the ‘defenders of cheap food for the people’ condemning protectionism
- The Education act of 1902, angered nonconformists giving liberals a firmer hold on their vote
- Unionists had no real plan for social reformation
- The Taff Vale judgement put trade union support firmly behind the labour party
- LRC/Liberal act – That no liberal candidate would stand if the LRC candidate had a better chance of winning to avoid split vote due to similar policy (this guaranteed liberal votes for the LRC)
- Arthur Balfour had been seen as a poor leader, he was indecisive and still went ahead with the 1902 act and went with tariff reform..

This meant that with HCB, Asquith, the upcoming Lloyd George and the huge majority in the commons, secured the idea that radical reformation was on its way. The Labour party now supported the liberals as did the INP over home rule, whilst the conservatives remained split over tariff reform

OVERVIEW
BALFOUR attempts to cause crisis to underminebecause
- Thought liberals would not allow HCB leadership
- Cons did well at by-elections
- Home Rule divisions
he misjudged however, as they all excepted him (ILL HEALTH)

Libs won by huge majority, 400-157
- unionists looked imperial
- divided over tariff reform still, libs defenders of cheap food
- ed act made them unpopular with nonconformists
- taff vale pushed TU support away
- no real social reform package after national efficiency problem
- balfour was a poor leader
- lib lab pact
- china workers scandal