Domestic impact of war: politics

The start of the First World War saw a coalition government being formed for the first time, composed by the Liberal, Conservative, and Labour parties.
Despite the coalition, there was a significant power shift within the government. The traditional ruling class, the aristocracy, began losing its influence, and businessmen and public administrators started gaining more political power.
The Labour party saw significant growth, with its membership tripling between 1914 and 1920. Workers and trade unions were now better represented in Parliament.

The Great War saw an unprecedented expansion of state control and regulation in most areas of British life, particularly the economy and industry.
Rationing was introduced and the state took control of key industries like coal, steel and shipping to ensure that resources were being used for the war effort.
Although state control was supposed to be temporary for the duration of the war, many of these measures remained in place after the war ended, setting a precedent for state involvement in the economy.

The war led to major shifts in political affiliations and the emergence of new political parties.
The rise of nationalism across Europe after the war led to the creation of new nationalist parties in many countries, including the Sinn Fein in Ireland, which started pushing for independence.
The post-war era also saw the rise of socialist and communist parties, often inspired by the 1917 Russian Revolution.

One of the most significant political changes resulted due to the pressures of war was the extension of voting rights.
The Representation of the People Act 1918 expanded the right to vote to all men over 21 and some women over 30. This marked a major step towards universal suffrage.
Subsequent democratic reforms in the 1920s further expanded suffrage, ultimately leading to equal voting rights for men and women.