How accurate is it to say that the living standards of the working class improved very little in the years 1918-39?

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  • How accurate is it to say that the living standards of the working class improved very little in the years 1918-39?
    • Thesis: living standards of the working class improved very little 1918-39
      • Economic problems kept living standards low for many - early 20s recession, decline of traditional industry/ economic slump (1929-33)
      • Unemployment high 1920 onwards
      • 1918 'land fit for heroes' broken promises - little was done successively to improve living/ working conditions
      • Provision of poor relief discouraged benefit claiming e.g. 'means test' c. 1931
      • Health provision was ad-hoc/expensive for uncovered
    • Antithesis: living standards of the working class was limited
      • Purchasing power of employed increased e.g. new consumerables
        • Wage increase - improvement in diet (fresh food/ dairy)
      • 'two cities' as traditional industrial areas declied/ new industrial growth prospered (Midlands, South East)
      • 1935-, majority saw standards steadily increase - even shipbuilding in the North - re-armament jobs
      • 'land fit for heroes'/ coucil houses in the 30s helped many
      • Office/retail workers benefited from higher wages/ suburbia

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