Societal Factors

The Booth and Rowntree poverty surveys in London and York drew attention to the high levels of poverty, which influenced public opinion and increased pressure on the government to tackle poverty.
The Poor Law system was seen as outdated and failed to adequately address the needs of the urban poor. This also acted as a catalyst for reform.
High levels of disease and poor health among the workforce directly affected productivity and the nation’s economic health, making health reforms a priority.

Political Considerations

The Liberals were facing pressure from the emerging Labour Party, which was advocating for the rights of the working class. Introducing welfare reforms helped the Liberals to win back working-class support.
The Liberal Government itself had a lot of social reformers like David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill who were driven by a desire to improve living conditions.

The 1902 Education Act had highlighted the problem of malnourished children, demonstrating the link between poverty, health and education, and reinforcing the case for welfare reforms.
The realisation of the poor physical condition of many recruits during the Boer War raised concerns about the nation’s ability to fight future wars, leading the government to address health and living conditions.

The government was influenced by the introduction of social welfare measures in other industrialising countries, such as Germany and New Zealand, underlining the importance of the welfare reforms for Britain’s international competitiveness.

The growing strength and influence of the trade unions, as well as increasing industrial unrest, put pressure on the government to improve working conditions and welfare for workers.

By the early 20th century, the Victorian values of self-help and individualism were giving way to a more collectivist outlook, which saw the government taking more responsibility for the wellbeing of its citizens. This change in attitudes paved the way for the welfare reforms.