Battles at Home

Political Clashes

After a few years of war, many Manx people were becoming desperate. The In 1915 boarding-house owners joined together under the leadership of radical local journalist Samuel Norris, and formed the War Rights Union of Tenants and Occupiers of Business Premises. They demanded fair rates, rents, and compensation for the effect of the war on their businesses. They were especially angry that taxes were raised through the sale of food, which meant that poor people paid more of their income in taxes than rich people did.

The unelected Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Lord Raglan, was powerful, conservative and unpopular. He had blocked many reforms from Britain, such as health insurance and pensions, and prevented direct taxation that would have raised more money from the rich. By 1916 he was clashing with several members of the House of Keys over these policies.

While the Battle of the Somme began in France, the angry Manx people confronted Raglan at the Tynwald Day ceremony.

The 1918 Bread Strike

During the war, the supply of bread was carefully controlled in Britain. It was an important part of the diet of the poor, so richer people were discouraged from eating it. The British government paid bakers so that the cost of a loaf was no more than 9d, which meant that people could afford it no matter how bad the shortages were.

In 1918, Lord Raglan decided to end the government payments to keep the ninepenny loaf, as Tynwald would need to introduce income tax to afford it. However, this came at a time when many workers were earning just 4d an hour. However, more and more Manx workers had joined the Workers’ Union during the war, and they decided to take a stand.

On 4 July 1918, a General Strike began. Workers were angry not just about the ninepenny loaf, but also the lack of old age pensions and many of Lord Raglan’s decisions to withhold help from the island’s struggling population. The Steam Packet and railways stopped running, women refused to work in the knitting factories and schools closed down.

Tynwald Day was cancelled. There were angry scenes when Robert Moughtin refused to close his coal yard on South Quay in Douglas, and the police had to intervene. However, the strike was successful, Lord Raglan left the island and the ninepenny loaf remained.