British Film Institute

With the fall of the minority Labour government in August 1931, Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald had agreed to remain in charge of a national government. A general election was held and this is MacDonald's appeal for support for that national government. He talks of the daily fluctuations in the value of the pound caused by the increasing banking uncertainty. He makes a direct appeal to women who see at first hand the effects of these fluctuations. This appeal is interesting as the 1931 election was the first to extend the vote to all women; previously only women over 30 years of age were eligible.

Compared to Stanley Baldwin, who filmed a similar appeal, MacDonald seems ill at ease in front of the camera; he tends to mumble and look about him. Baldwin, on the other hand, was an assured performer and conveyed his message with simplicity and ease.

Simon Baker

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