Labour Government 1929-1931
| Second MacDonald ministry | |
|---|---|
| 1929–1931 | |
 |
|
| Date formed | 5 June 1929 |
| Date dissolved | 24 August 1931 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | George V |
| Head of government | Ramsay MacDonald |
| Head of government's history | 1929–1935 |
| Deputy head of government | |
| Total no. of ministers | 86 appointments |
| Member party | Labour Party |
| Status in legislature | |
| Opposition party | Conservative Party |
| Opposition leaders |
|
| History | |
| Election(s) | 1929 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | 35th UK Parliament |
| Predecessor | Second Baldwin ministry |
| Successor | First National Government |
The second MacDonald ministry was formed by Ramsay MacDonald on his reappointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King George V on 5 June 1929. It was only the second occasion on which the Labour Party had formed a government; the first MacDonald ministry held office in 1924.
The government formed lacked a parliamentary majority, its total of 288 seats (arising from 8,300,000 votes) compared to the Conservatives' 255 seats with 8,560,000 votes. Most remaining seats were those of 58 Liberal MPs. The disparity in seats versus votes cast was created by the outcome on boundaries at the time under the first past the post electoral system and the last boundary change under the Representation of the People Act 1918. MacDonald thus had a minority government that needed the support of Lloyd-George's MP to pass legislation. His ministers rapidly faced the problems stemming from the impact of the Great Depression. On the one hand, international bankers insisted that strict budget limits be kept; on the other, trade unions and, particularly, unemployed workers' organisations carried on regular and massive protest actions, including a series of hunger marches.
The Government faced practical enforcement difficulties with its legislation, such as the Coal Mines Act 1930, which provided for a 7 ½-hour daily shift in mines. Owners were guaranteed minimum coal prices through compulsory production quotas among collieries, thus doing away with cut-throat competition. This solution was introduced to prevent a fall in miners' wages. The Act introduced a philanthropic cartel replacing the coal merchants' oligopoly to allocate production quotas by control of a central council, while a Mines Reorganisation Commission was established to encourage efficiency through amalgamations. Many mine owners variously offended these provisions due to Labour's lack of enforcement powers.
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