Municipal Reform Party facts for kids

The Municipal Reform Party was a local political group in London, England. This party worked closely with the national Conservative Party. They took part in elections for the London County Council and local borough councils from 1906 to 1945.

Forming the Party

The Municipal Reform Party started in 1906. Its main goal was to take control of London's local government from the Progressive and Labour parties. Before 1906, Conservatives in London were known as "Moderates."

A new group called the Central Municipal Reform Committee was set up in September 1906. This new group brought together the old Moderate Party and other local groups. These groups were against what they called the "Progressive-Socialist Party." The new party also had strong support from the London Municipal Society. This society wanted to make sure London's government worked well and spent money wisely. They hoped the Municipal Reform Party would lower public debt and stop the growth of "Socialism."

Winning Local Borough Elections

The Municipal Reform Party first ran in elections for the Metropolitan Borough councils on November 1, 1906. They did very well in these first elections. The party gained control of 22 out of 28 councils. In three other councils, groups supported by the Municipal Reformers or independent candidates won.

The Progressive Party lost most of their power, holding only three of the twelve boroughs they once controlled. The Labour Party also lost its only borough, Woolwich, to the new party.

Changes in Borough Control

The year 1906 was the best for the Municipal Reform Party in borough elections. They lost some ground in 1909 and 1912. However, in 1919, they faced big losses as the Labour Party became stronger. After the 1919 election, both Labour and Municipal Reform controlled 11 boroughs each.

To stay in power, the Municipal Reformers teamed up with the remaining Progressive groups. They formed alliances to oppose Labour. This strategy helped them win back control in many boroughs in the 1922 election. By 1931, they controlled 18 boroughs. Other allied parties or groups controlled six more. After 1931, the party's support and number of seats slowly went down in each election. The last time the Municipal Reform Party ran in a borough election was in 1945. They held six boroughs then. In the next election in 1949, official Conservative Party candidates ran instead.

Leading the London County Council

After their success in the 1906 borough elections, the Municipal Reform Party released their plans for the 1907 London County Council election. Their main ideas included:

• Careful spending of public money.
• Proper checks on government accounts.
• Creating a special board to manage transport in London.
• Stopping the Progressive Party's plan for public electricity. They wanted private companies to provide electricity instead.
• Supporting religious schools in their education policy.

The election took place on March 2, 1907. The party's campaign was very successful. The Municipal Reformers won power from the Progressive Party. They stayed in control of the London County Council until 1934. In that year, the Labour Party, led by Herbert Morrison, took over.

From 1934 to 1946, the Municipal Reform Party was the main opposition group on the county council. The party officially ended in 1946. No Municipal Reform Party candidates ran in the county council election that year. Instead, Conservative candidates appeared for the first time.

Leaders on the London County Council

These people led the Municipal Reform Party on the London County Council:

• 1907: Richard Robinson
• 1908: William Peel
• 1910: Hayes Fisher
• 1911: Cyril Jackson
• 1915: Ronald Collet Norman
• 1917: George Hume
• 1925: William Ray
• 1934: Harold Webbe

Important Party Members

Here are some notable members of the Municipal Reform Party:

• Frank Goldsmith: He represented South St. Pancras from 1904 to 1910 and was the party's whip (a person who makes sure party members vote as a group).
• Sir Henry Percy Harris: He was chairman of the London County Council from 1907 to 1908. Later, he became a Member of Parliament for Paddington South from 1910 to 1922.
• Cecil Levita: He served as chairman of the London County Council from 1928 to 1929.
• Ronald Collet Norman: He was chairman of the London County Council from 1918 to 1919.
• Richard Robinson: He was the leader of the London County Council from 1907 to 1908.
• Sir Robert Tasker
• Harold Webbe: He led the party for 12 years.