Reasons for the Liberal Social Reforms - Municipal socialism

2. Municipal socialism
Socialism was the belief in
economic equality, meaning the
rich should pay to help the poor.
Although most help for poor
people came from charities, from
the 1850s onwards other changes
began to be made by local and
national governments, particularly
by local (municipal) government.

3. Glasgow
Local government across Britain
began spending local taxpayers’
money on social reforms which
improved many lives.
By the 1860s in Glasgow, the
Council controlled city lighting and
the water supply. A new pipeline
from Loch Katrine brought clean
water to parts of the city that had
never enjoyed this before.

4. Glasgow
There were many other changes
introduced in Glasgow too.
The city’s tram system was
extended – including a night
service – making it easier to travel.
In 1858, the city also appointed its
first Medical Officer of Health
(William Tennant Gairdner).

5. Dundee
Dundee also brought fresh
water into the city by building
reservoirs at Monikie and
Crombie parks.
The city also introduced a sewer
network in the 1870s to try and
reduce the spread of disease.
Public parks also opened, such
as Lochee Park in 1899.

6. Birmingham
The English city of Birmingham
oversaw a huge number of social
policies during the 1800s.
The city’s council controlled
schemes such as sewers, gas
lighting and fresh water.
The local area also saw a slum
clearance scheme with new
homes being built.

7. School meals
Free school meals had also been
introduced in various places
around Britain.
In 1879, Manchester became the
first council to offer free school
meals for some poorer children.
This was followed by other places,
including the School Board for
London.

8. Government
intervention
Average life expectancy rose in
Glasgow from the mid-1800s
until the start of the 1900s.
This was partly due to falls in
illnesses such as typhus and
cholera, at least some of which
can be linked to better access to
clean water in the city.

9. Government
intervention
Many local councils across
Britain had introduced social
reforms, with the results helping
improve the lives of poorer
people in their communities.
The success of these reforms –
by Labour and Liberal councils –
proved that national government
could do the same.

10. Delay national action?
‘Municipal socialism’ certainly
proved that when government
action could be taken to improve
the lives of working class people.
However, by locally fixing the
worst types of poverty problems
that many people in Britain faced,
it may also have delayed the need
for national action.

11. Not compulsory
Also, some of the Liberal reforms
were not compulsory (when first
introduced in 1906, free school
meals was optional).
The fact that councils could
choose whether or not to
introduce policies suggests that
the Liberals were not hugely
influenced by local actions when
deciding to introduce reforms.

12. Labour councils
From the late-1800s, some
councils were run by Labour or
socialist groups. They
implemented many policies aimed
at improving lives.
In 1889, London County Council
was run a group including
Fabians. They introduced policies
such as a fire brigade and
building public housing.

13. Labour councils
Labour representatives were
elected to local councils
across Britain, notably West
Ham in London which in 1898
became the first Labour-run
council.
This new council took actions
such as taking control of local
tram services.

14. Local policies
Labour’s actions gained them
more support from the working
class, which forced the Liberals to
follow their example and introduce
various reforms.
Labour’s local election success
also made it easier for them to
attract votes in national elections,
again hurting the Liberals.

15. Limited reforms
However Labour’s local
success was often short-lived.
Although they took control of
West Ham council in 1898, they
lost it in 1899 and did not again
win control until 1910.
This suggests that not all local
people supported them, and
thus the Liberals were not
threatened by them.

16. Liberal councils
Many Liberal councils across
Britain also took action to
improve lives, including policies
like free school meals. This
meant that Liberals could win
the support of the working class.
Also, some of the Labour
councils were jointly run with the
Liberals, including London
County Council.