1.1 Conservative governments

Question 1

Winston Churchill

Answer 1

. Colonialist - believed in the British empire
. Tory then Liberal then Tory
. Led Gallipoli campaign WWI
. Tried to persuade Liberals to join the Cabinet
. Many say he won WWII for Britain

Question 2

Churchill government: Political Factors

Answer 2

. Govt. followed Attlee legacy except for emphasis on role of market in economic growth
. Churchill trusted his ministers to do their jobs with little interference
. His cabinet was a mix of those who’d served with him in the war, Lord Woolton, ministers outside of the Tory party, Gwyilym Lloyd George, reformers such as Butler as Chancellor, Macmillan at Housing

Question 3

Churchill government: Social Factors +

Answer 3

. 1954: all food rationing ended
. Macmillan oversaw building of 30,000 houses per year, by 1954 30% houses were up for private sale
. 50s saw a rise in living standards
. Start of 1955: near full employment, low inflation, low taxes, rising prosperity

Question 4

Churchill government: Social Factors -

Answer 4

. Little done to improve education
. Emphasis on building came at expense of building up Britain’s industry (arguably)
. ‘consolidation rather than innovation was the order of the day’ - Anthony Seldon

Question 5

Churchill government: Economic Factors +

Answer 5

. Iain Macleod intro a 2 shilling prescription charge with little public outcry
. Butler cleared the deficit by 1952 with a surplus of £259 million, through savage cuts
. Spending on welfare state from 39.2% in 1951 to 43% in 1955
. Fall in price of imports and end of Korean war led to healthy economic situation

Question 6

Churchill government: Economic Factors -

Answer 6

. Minister for Labour sir Walton Monckton cooperated with Trade Unions and avoided confrontations, it’s argued that this policy led to wage increases and increased inflation
. Increase in inflation in 1955

Question 7

Anthony Eden

Answer 7

. “half a baronet half beautiful woman”
. “considered to be the greatest PM that we’d had for a long time” “arab horse”
. Lacked knowledge on economic issues
. Criticised for being too conciliatory with trade unions
. Responsible for the Suez Crisis 1956

Question 8

Harold Macmillan

Answer 8

. “The man of masks”
. “The beautiful actor” - Hennessey
. Satirical show performed of him by Peter Cook at Beyond the Fringe: the Queen saw and loved it
. Anachronistic
. Related to 18/85 of the ministers (by marriage)

Question 9

Post War Consensus

Answer 9

• Post WWII there was an agreement between the main political parties on the major issues. Key elements:
  . Belief in mixed economy
  . Support for NHS and the welfare state
  . A wish to ensure full employment
  . Working with trade unions and employers
• Sometimes called ‘Butskellism’ Butler + Gaitskell

Question 10

Conservative manifesto: Housing

Answer 10

. 1951: manifesto promised to build 30,000 houses pa
. This would rebuild the housing stock destroyed during the war and replace slums that were lived in pre-war
. Macmillan (Housing Minister) oversaw this

Question 11

Conservative manifesto: Education

Answer 11

. Conservatives continued the Tripartite system, developed after the Butler Act of 1944. 3 school types:
- Grammar school for the gifted
- Technical school, focus practical + vocational skills
- Secondary modern, basic education for majority
. Some began to think this system was unfair

Question 12

Conservative manifesto: Social Reforms

Answer 12

. Clean Air Act of 1956
. Housing and Factory Acts
. Butler as Home Secretary was more liberal
. The Homicide Act of 1957 restricted death penalty
. 1957: Wolfenden Commission recommended gay should no longer be a crime

Question 13

Left wing Labour party members

Answer 13

. Michael Foot
. Dick Crossman
. Barbara Castle
. Ian Mikardo
. Nye Bevan

Question 14

Right wing Labour party members

Answer 14

. Hugh Gaitskell
. Roy Jenkins
. Tony Crossland

Question 15

Issues dividing the Labour party

Answer 15

. British rearmament at the time of the Korean war:
- Right wing thought Britain needed nuclear weapons so Gaitskell intro’d NHS charges to fund them.
- Left wing believed NHS should remain free for everyone in all departments: Bevan resigned.
- Gaitskellites vs Bevanites: Bevan right + more liked
. Nuclear weapons: CND - unilateral disarmament
. Trade unions
. Clause 4 - nationalisation: 1959: considered removal

Question 16

Misfortunes of Labour party - 1950s

Answer 16

. 1951: Bevan resigned from Attlee govn over NHS charges, led to party split
. 1951: Labour narrowly lost election despite most votes
. Ernest Bevin, leading party unifier, died in 1951
. 1955: Attlee resigned, Gaitskell replaced him
. 1956: Frank Cousins became leader of TGWU, fiercely opposed Gaitskell over nuclear weapons
. 1959: lost election, Gaitskell promised pension he couldn’t fund

Question 17

Fortunes of Labour party - 1950s

Answer 17

. 1956: after Suez crisis, Labour in better position as Gaitskell shredded Eden’s attempt to justify crisis
. 1958: CND formed supported by Labour left: huge demo of 8000 at research base at Aldermaston
. 1959: Labour conference, Gaitskell considered abolishing clause 4. Faced fierce opposition
. 1960: Conference, party debated supporting nuclear disarmament: Gaitskell defeated after ‘fight and fight again to save the party we love’ speech

Question 18

The End of the Conservatives

Answer 18

. Scandals: Night of Long Knives, Profumo affair, the Vassall inquiry
. The Night of the Long Knives: July 62, Macmillan dismissed 39/131 ministers for ‘fresh govn’
. Establishment Factor: Macmillan old + out of touch with socially mobile affluent age. Half of cabinet went to Eton. Party lost momentum after 1959
. Succession crisis: 2 contenders after Macmillan resigned: RA Butler + Lord Hailsham, Hume, late runner, announced candidacy. All old + out of date