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Throughout the 20th century working class movements and particularly trade unions became more influential. When it came to decisive moments in Britain's history, were trade unions just a noisy pressure group or did they really influence the way government thought and acted?
Review the context material and investigate sources across this time period.
Britain's economy was going through major changes. The big staple industries such as coal, steel, shipbuilding and textiles faced stiff foreign competition.
Look at the role of trade unions and their relations with the main political parties in this period.
With Britain in the grip of an economic depression and having failed to unite his own party, Ramsay MacDonald resigned as Britain's first Labour Prime Minister. MacDonald was then asked by the King to form a cross-party National Government to tackle the crisis.
Investigate the impact of MacDonald's policies on ordinary workers and British politics.
During the Depression many people lost their jobs and faced poverty. Trade unions tried hard to represent the views of the workers to the government.
Consider how far the unions really influenced governments in this period.
Britain faced many new challenges after the end of the Second World War. In order to tackle them, the main political parties agreed to consensus.
Look at the role of trade unions and their relations with the main political parties in this period.
Political consensus began to break down. Social, economic and technological change brought benefits but also tensions between unions, employers and government.
See what the cabinet papers reveal about the strength of trade unions during this period of change.