why did the first woeld war have such an immense impact on the trenches?

Broad consensus across political parties - Liberal, Labour, Conservative, Ulster Unionists, Irish Nationalists. Handful of Liberals resigned from the Cabinet including John Burns. Some Labour members protested including Ramsay MacDonald who resigned the leadership of the Labour Party. Initial overwhelming support for Asquith's government was lost by poor handling of the war. Asquith's ineptitude?

2. Damage to Liberalism.

'The outbreak of WW1 initiated a process of disintegration in the Liberal Party, which, by 1918 had reduced it to ruins.' Trevor Wilson.

The unprecedented extension of state authority completely overrode free trade, respect for individual liberty and the non-interventionist economic theories of Liberalism. War time policies included conscription, rationing, restriction of individual freedom to travel and change jobs, censorship, propaganda, and massive extension of state control of the economy. Survival and victory were the prime objectives and the old Liber...