1939-64- Development Of Political Parties Flashcards
1945 ge results
Lab 393 +239 48%
Con 210 -210 39.6%
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree
Loa y
Results disastrous con lost 219 seats with lab 393
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree- election campaign- y
Slogans trust the gov and lets win the war- erroneous to electorate- out of touch gov not proving how trustworthy
Lets win the war in ref to pacific war- war battered nation dont want perpetual war, fresh start
Campaign assumed public idolation of churchill not the case- imperialist preoccupied with restoring empire esp india- rest of counrty not
Structural suport not there- local con party organisation and activists decrease duirng and after war
3000 spent rather £30,000 in 1935
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree- electoral campaign- lab strength
Upliftiing and progresive- lets face the future, lets build the houses quick - fast mobing
Atlee calm and statemanlike- modest comp to aristocratic chirchill
Captured public mood- war won by the people not the leader
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree- treatment of the working class
Historically con party of aristocratics, patriots and increassing niddle classes
Churchill villan with 1926 general stuike- dealt in aggressive and unsympathetic way
Lack of support- walthamstow 1945 campaign speech shouted at by working class crowd
Lack welfare reform proposals made- war main priority
Beveridge report divided - moderates such as tory reform group supported, tradtions chrchill feared high tax and increased state intervention
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree- treatment working class- lab strnegth
Beveriedge report supported- 86% pop in favour
Founded on socialist principles and for working class
Post war state iintervention more welcomed- rationsing and gov control major industries ww2
State control to increase living conditions- free school meals and free school milk
Middle class increase support with evacuees poeverty seen- moree willing
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree- wartime con weakness
Churchill heralded as man who won the war yet not in the eyes of many
Inspiratiopnal speeches aimed to boost morale but seen as drunkedn slurred shakespearean language- out of touch
War mogering with appeasement- chamberlain- macmillian claimed ‘it was not churchill who lost theh 1945 election it was the ghost of neville chambeleraliin- past ministers haunt 1945
The main reason the con lost the 1945 election was due to the poor election campaign- how far do you agree- war tiem- lab strength
War utilised as opposed to to demonstrate lab viability and skill- bevin and morrison both working as coalition inisters as lab minister and home secretary- responsible for domestic policy= could run a welfare state
Pamphlet the guilty men- labour proposed present con failed to prepare for war and appeasement
Ge result 1950
Lab 315 -78
Con 290 +77
Ge result 1951
Lab 291 -24
Con 321 +31
Ge 1950+51 - con strenhth policy
Promised to build 300,000 homes a year
Accepted the majority of labour reofms welfare state and mixed econ
Adopted industrial charter claims we are not a party of unbridled brutal capitalism and never have been
Churchill captured public modd by promising more read mmeat-
Churchill gained popularity un korean war
Manifesto 1950 this is the road accepted lab reform and promised to introduce a dose of competition intothe econ
Ge 1950+51 lab weakness policy
Udealism and policy disagrenets
Morrison called for consolidation but bevan wanted more reform esp more nat
Nat of abdan oil refinery in iran humiliating
Under lab age of austerity- middle class workers and women v furstrated with rationin
Taxation caused disatisfcation- standard rate 45% top rate 90^
Houseing shortage with 50,000 still squatting in 1951
Ge 1950+51 con strength leadersip
Churchill still pop and could be star performer
Contain men of political heavyweight- eden forieign policy and macmillan, butler
But churchill 76 and just had stroke in 1950
Ge 1950+51 - lab weakness leadership
Av age cabinet 1949 60
Stress took toll many left, bevin died 1951
Leadership struggle with party less united than in 1945
Ge 1950+51 - party organisation
New party chiraman lord woolton- helped revitalise con grass roots by setting local party task of raising 1 million
1945 election v disastrous so by 1950 nearlyt 300 party constituency agents applied qualiflied
Early 1950s membership 3 mill- largest
Woolten said no candiate should contribute more than £25 per yr to local constuency prevent wealthy candidate chose
Yc started in 1946 and grew rapidly
Party attracted large donations from usinesses- esp fear nat
Party propaganda more sophistciated
Ge 1950+51- lab weakness other
Working class identified drop 78 to 72% 1931-51
Rep peoples across- abolish two menver constuency, boundry changes, postal voting 10-1 to ocn, abolish plural voting and seperate uni votes
Atlee could have reformed more but did not- morality morality morality
Political consesnus definition
Varries
Broad or happy and willing agreement between the two main parties on social economic and industrial policy
Political consensus ys historian
Addison
Political consensus no
Revisionist- barney and jeff rys, pimlott- mirage
Political consensus occured- essay plan
Economic
Reform
Tu and working class
Political consesnus- yes econmic
Accepted need for gov intervention in social and econ policu and need for state planning
Con industrial charter 1947- party commitment to mized econ- accepted lab nat policies of coal and railway, after 1947 lab slow down on nat suggesting meeting halfway
1954 economist- butskellism suggesting current chancellor and lab predecessor similar
Political consensus- economic no
Con denat iron steel and road
1964 wilson promised to lead white heat of technology
Political consesnus - yes - reform
Beveridge report drawn up by both parties in coaliution gov during wartime- both parties committed to implement most of ideas
Despite some opposition to aspects of nhs- can accept it as a commitment
Nhs uncontroversial- minister of health not in cabinet 1952-62
Political consesnus- no reform
Strong con opp esp detail of nhs
1964 nation was ready for change and consesnus which had dominated 13y ocn gov broad decline
Con introduced some changes in 1950s abolishing id cards 1952
Bought end to rationing at end 1954
Con wanted dto keep tripartite sstem as benefit middle class support
Political consesnus- yes- tu and working class
Con followed lab policy of full employment and tried to break association with 1930s when labelled party of mass unemp- 1944 churchill wartime coalition white paper- the gov accepted as one of its primary aims the maintenance of a high and stable level of employment
Con accepted need to treat tu as part of poltical establishemnt and as a legit part in shaping econ policy- nedc
Two rail strikes in 1953-54 were averted capitulation to the demand- no new legislation threat confront tu not allowed
Political consesnus- no tu and working class
Voters wanted social change in 1945 and reform still associated con with 130s
Con out of touch- old values against abortion and divorce, public school, benan 1945 tories lower than vermin, con lab socialist
Problems which divided labour party
Gaitskell v bevanites
Nuclear weapons
Conflict bevanites and gaitskell
Gaitskell beat bevan after atlee left- led party centre right
Bevanites left wingers believes in high natyionalisation and larger turnout which had more control over gov policy
Conlfict nuclear
Cnd movement- campiagn nuclear disarmament and unilateralists- nuclear deterrant simple patriotism should be spent on welfare refomrs vs main party belief that need nuclear weaposn
How macmillan described 1950 years
Never had it so good
Reasons for post 1951 con dominance
Development politcial consensus
Improvement living standards under ocn
Labour divisions
Reasons for post 1951 con dominance - development political consensus
Few major issues for lab party to seriously challenge con on given post war consesnus
Con accpted key principles of lab econ and socila policy- mixed econ and welfare state
Similar econ policu- butskellism
Class divisions undermined in war- nat unity, rationing creation welfare state, wellbeing of entire population matter
Post 1951 con dominance improvements standards of living
Most signiif reason
Macmillan 1956- most of our people have never had it so good
Despite hardships for some, wages rose ahead of prices throughoyt period real wages rose 29% 1955-60, 4% 1960-64
Greater availability of credit, borrow more, uy more manufactured goods
Consumer boom 1950-64 car ownership 4x
1951-54 macmillan achieved target 300,000 homes built but poor quality, by 64 1.7mil built
Rent act abolished rent controls making 6 mill more housues available on market
Macmilliian property owing demcracy as bank and building societies encouraged by gov to lend out more mortagegs
Increased scoial mobility
Credit blurred class diviison
Madd produced consumer goods- tvs increased in millions by 1953 for watching queen coronation
Post 1951 con dominance- labour divisions
Identity issue with bevanites
Divided on support nuclear eweapons with many members cnd supporter
Gaitskell unable bring party tpgeyther- faced popular citicism at party conference 1960
Churchill a great wartime leader
Loa no
Political
Miliatry
Morale domestic
Churchill a great wartime leader poltical yes
Was opp to appeasement- made more sucessful later- cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth
1940 emergency powers act- censorhsip, direct people to work, consdicption
War cabinet carefully put together from all three parties in catlee and bevin to keep on side
Churchill a great wartime leader - political no
Churchill not first choice- halifax before
Big interferer- ie food shortage
1945 eection public voted atlee
Still seen as enemy to working class general strike- hagi
Likened lab party to gestapo
Churchill a great wartime leader - military yes
Dunkirk proved sucessful
Skinking of bismark0 biggest german ship
Convoy system surrounded merchant with battleships
Carpet bombing on germany mass casulties, in revenge coventry, disrupt supplies
Sucess d day- liberation of france, pluto pipeline under sea for gas
churchill great wartime leader- military no
Dunkirk left weapons germans got
Battle of britain luck- hitler thought losing so went to fight uusr
Dresdent lots died- opp just wart heory
Churchill a great wartime leader yes- morale/domestic
Speeches could be reached trhogh radio- blood toil tears and sweay
Dunkirk spriist, stornger leader
We shall never surrender
Keep motivations high
Churchill a great wartime leader - no morale. Domestic
Pro empire less pop
Drunken speeches- alienated and lack d faith
Many speeches later recorded to hoc not public
Why did the con lose 1964 ge
Con weakness esp image
Wilson compained of 13 wasted years
Econ leadership and ethos/image of party
Con lost 1964ge econ- y
Gov humiliated 1963 with application join eec refused, on international stage
Chancellor selwyn lloyd imposed series of unpop deflationary policies- after affluence of 1950s
Con lost 1964- econ no
Unemp reached 800,000 1963 deeming macmillains ‘never had it so good’ invalid
Labour open to recover anf reitalise
Wilson- white heat of technology- accepted the future
Con lost 1964 econ- leadership-y
Promotion of home as pm- selected on formal convention of cabinet ministers- macloed, party chair, later claimed undermined gov by a group of old etonians around pm
Macmillian choice cabinet 1954- half of cabinet posts 1959 old etonians not modern
Leaderhip- no- con lost 1964 ge
Wilsons skillful election campaign presented humself as better fitted to lead nation in technological and new age of britain
Ethos of patry- con lost 1964
Establishment
Profumo affair
Weakness and lack of spirit after 13y- less grass roots action
Increasing disquiet on right of con party ober west indian and asian immigration to britain forced gov pass commonwealth immiration act 1962
Con lost 1964 ge- ethos of party no
Con gov main figure of sature in tv stheatre and radio
Swinging sixties had younger spriit needed labour image
Scandals in con 1960s
Spy- philbs
Vassall affair
Profumo afair
Macmillan successor
Philbs spy
Senior office in foeign office, fo rdecades passing info to ussr, recruitaing agents and runnig a spy network
To avoud arrest, philbs fled to moscow and macmillain gov took most of blame in heart of gov
Vassal affair
1963 gov forced to investigate vassal civil servant in admiralty coaught spying for ussr
Suggestions that senioroo admiralty figures had tried to protect vassell, talk of cover ups siggest gov not in control of dpt
Profumo affair
Profumo, war minister, affair with prostitute keeler- also with russian spy diplomat ivanov (who found secrets in his office
Mar 1963- profumo solemnly declared in hoc no truth in rumors of his affair- 3 months later foecd to admit lied to parliament and resigned
Blackmailed- hidden camera of profumo and keeler
Questioned the. Mroality of gov
But even mroe so as many in congress party who were clients at high class brothel chievedn where he first met keeler- by steven ward left wing
Secrets ivanov claimed to get
Britain chronically undeprepared in chemical and biological warfare
Knew details of negotiations with america to give access to nuclear weapons, plans to hand over control of scottish naval forces/ports to america in exchange polaris submarines
Details top secret x-15 high altitude hypersonic aircraft and plan m-70 depoy of tactical nuclear weapons in eurpe
Macmillan sucession
1963 macmillan arrive his intention to resign- unwell, weary 6y in post, profumo
Most thought butler v lord hailsham (aritsocratic)
With butler favourite as one of few senior con to survev the night of the long knives, macmillan restructure caninet to bring in younger ones
Lord hume- foreign sec- made pm= inidictae old boys network of old etonians, not democratic
Useo f econ by churchill
Quptes and used hayek book ‘the road to surfdom’ effectively against atlee and lab as anti socialist text
Did not have much resonance with british public, lab landslide
Greater confidence on lab due to ww2
Atlee deputy pm 1942- focused on domestic policy
Pushed churchil on forming informal cabinet for domestic issues
Disagreement over nhs
Bevanites - wanted to go further
Con- hesitent esp back doctors who didnt want to become civil servants, thus seperate pay structure for gps/doctors
Nuclear weapons disagreement
Gaitskell support with con on nuclear weapons
Bevanites disagree agnti nuclear weapons
1945 campaign
Battle between apst and present
Churchill figurehead associated party w increasingly objectionable ideas- imperialsim, drunkeness ect
Not a viable peacetime leader
Churchill support in war
78% approval
Biggest problems for country 1945
41% housing, 5% internat security
Past problems for con in 1945
Two ghosts
Neville chamberlain
Lg- failed land fit for heroes
During war growing lab support
10-20% ahead
Churchill out of touch
Writer and soldier burgess descript churchill as man who would ‘smoke cigars in fornt of soldiers who had not had a decent cigarette in days’
Atllee 3 bed semi comp churchill benheim palace
Churchill v atlee in war
Churchill was famously causing chaos at Gallipoli and the Dardanelles, Atlee was an officer on the front,
serving in Gallipoli, Iraq and France
Labour in war cabinet
27 posts in gov by 1945
Firebomb dresden- moral
Atllee and lab good britain
Jb preistley
Britain was being bombed into democracy”.
Left wing media
Jb priestly sunday evening postscripts heard by millins on the radio in summer 1940
Pelling stated that 1945 not a suprise=- ‘the electorate had been showing a persistent bias towards the left at elast isnce 1942
Name of two parties campaigns in 1945
Mr churchill declaration of policy to the electors
Let us face the future
Closer main two parties ideologically
1950 nine young con mps inc heath and macleod published book one nation- plegde nhs ect
Lack impact of tu threat to on
Wanted more imrpovements in living conditions ect
Considerable number voted for con
Changing lab party
Growing number intellecturlas
27 barristers, 36 teachers in 1959
Bevan lack popularity
Morrison called wicked
Crossman calledu npredicatble
Gaitskell out of touch
His banner was conscience and reform not class struggle
Winchester and oxford educated
Spending on education rose
1948-58 doubled in real terms
As proportion of nat income grew by 75%
Improved health due to nhs
1938-56
Cases of diphtheria declined 65,000 to 53
Infant mortyality halved
Tb virtually wiped out
Commitment of con to housing
Eden- a nationwide property-owning democracy
Defence spending remained high
23% 1950, 24% 1960
Concern on gaitskell within party
Seen as suspiiously right wing- sandbrook
Macmillan consensus
Writing book 1938 the middle way= on centralised panning and econ nationalism
Small circle in con
Macmillan 1958 gov
35/85 ministers related to macmillan by marriage
Affluence seen in 1950s
Queen mag ‘age of BOOM
High spending on campaign
Con 1959
Half mill pounds on poster campaign to promote new messgae lifes better with the con. Dont let lab ruin it
constitutional change
July 1963- peerage act
Hereditary peers to disclame their titles and stand for election t oparliament
Yet hailsham and home did not thus ‘it was only by the oddest of historical quirks’ that they ‘were candidates at all’
Lack of support hailsham
Daly telegraph 1000-1 odds on hailsham victory
Observer- home ‘most likely sucessor
Final votes for macmillan sucessor
Home 87 first choice, butler 86 yet home most seocnd choice votes and aroused least opposition- redmayne
Refused serve under home
Macloed and powell refused to serve under home as pm
Personal moral integrity
Description of selection for home
Spectator
‘Magic circle
Failure of macmilan gov
His biographer gov 1959-63
‘A series of disappointments of tragic proportions
Critic of conservatives by media
That was the week that was
Wilson- elegant anachronism
How long did plural voting remain until
1948 for business
