1950s Flashcards
Why did the conservatives win?
WEAKNESS OF THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM:
Churchill had 48% of the vote and 321 seats. Labour gained 48.8% of the vote but only 295 seats. Liberal party had 2.5% of the vote and only 6 seats.
The liberal party was financially stretched and in decline, only contested 109 seats
1951 labour had to win 47,000 votes in each seat in 1945 needed 30,000. Because of the representation of the people act 1948 labour had to win 2% more of the vote
LABOUR FAILINGS: this is not proven by the results of teh election.
- the government was not as strong as it had been in its early days. Exhausted many of the cabinet.
- they had been associated with austerity, rationing and high taxation
- had taken the country into the Korean War 1950 which added to financial strains
- party was divided : imposition of fees for dental treatment, prescriptions and classes undermined the principle that the nhs should be free at the point of treatment
- labours majority was decreased to 5 in the 1950 election which encouraged many MPs to voice their concerns about economic and foreign policy which further widened the party
HOW IMPORTANT WEE CONSERVTAIVE STRENGTHS?
- in 1950 had began to reorganise the party. Lord woolton had reformed party finances and local organisation and so the party would be in a stronger position to challenge labour. Lots of young talented politicians such ass maudlin who gave the party new ideas and dynamism
- labours nationalisation of the iron and steel industry allowed the tories to challenge them on this
- promised to build 300,000 houses a year as there was a shortage even tho labour built 200,000
- promised to give people more red meat
- not reverse labours changes and be committed to the welfare state
- Churchill was still popular and seen as a figurehead
Why were the conservatives able to dominate politics for so long?
In 1951 they denationalised steel but realised that: Britain needed to have some industry run by the state, there should not be economic cuts in welfare and health spending, it was important to maintain full employment
Butskillism
Stop- go: if the economy needed to be boosted they would rely on lowering interest rates and taxation ad therefore demand would go up. Would also increase import duties in order to protect British producers. If the economy grew too much and there was inflation they would increase interest rates and taxation in order to reduce prices
Successes;
+ high level employment for most of the period
+ the economy supported a growth in welfare spending and house building
+ some industries such as aircraft manufacturing, cars and chemicals also expanded.
+ more credit available which would facilitate spending and increase living standards. Manufactures could produce more goods for the home market such as vacuums and cars.
+ some growth in infrastructure as new roads were built and the motorway system began
+ road system was so developed that it allowed for a controversial reduction of the rail system as a result of the beeching report
Failures:
0 rate of economic growth lagged behind other countries
It’s share of world trade fell and export markets lagged behind domestic manufacture
- 10 per cent of gdp went into defence rather than investment
- failed to modernise the traditional industries such as coal and engineering
- management methods old fashioned and economy was high cost and labour intensive trade union influence made them uneconomical
- Britain didn’t join the eec
- Britain suffered due to persistent prise rises and lack of modernisation because of stagflation
From 1961 showed signs of weaknesses, unemployment reached 800,000 and there was bop deficit
Was conservative leadership an important factor between 1951-1964?
Churchill:
+ great reputation as a wartime leader and knowledge of foreign affairs
- less involved in domestic policy. And he was 77 years old so most of domestic affairs controlled by butler
- Churchill suffered a stroke in 1953 which the govt kept a secret and decided to continue
Eden:
+ Eden was handsome, charming and personable
- Suez crisis. Eden seemed to be living in the past bc he was worrying about links to the empire and saw Nasser as another hitler
- Eden had acted recklessly and was forced to withdraw forces and resign in 1957
Macmillian
+ calm leadership made him popular at home and abroad. He was warm and witty and was a natural television performer
+ new social policies: ended the death penalty, national service and made it clear that Britain would have to accept African independence .
+ 1959 England seemed prosperous and had a slogan of never had it so good
- knight of the long knives when macmillan
How weak was the Labour Party between 1951-60?
Internal disputes:
Hugh gitskell could not unite the party.
They were divided over the future of socialism: the bevanites believed that the welfare measures introduced under Attlee were just the first step and there needed more state control of the economy
Bevanites also believed that unions should have more say in the development of party policy
- however the right of the party wanted policy to be determined by the parliamentary party
The party was also split due to its attitudes over social reform and economic change, Anthony cross and wanted more focus on social change rather than economic change
- bevanites wanted greater commitment to clause IV, the left accused gaitskell for abandoning it as a policy.
Divisions over nuclear policy:
The left wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament so that there was more money for social reforms
And so that the Soviet Union shouldn’t fall too behind in the arms race
- the right was opposed to unilateral disarmament.
Bevan was less radical and rejected unilateral nuclear disarmament in the party conference of 1957.
However he opposed the party’s approval of remarmanent of Germany and its inclusion in NATO, fearing it would alienate the Soviet Union. These divisions were so great, bevan was expelled from the parliamentary party conference
- gaitskell had defeated bevan for the leadership contest in 1955 and believed that the party would take a more Centerist direction. After losing the third successive election, gaitskell argued the left had weakened them with their unilateralist views which were unpopular.
The left attacked the nuclear policy at teh party conference and forced a unilaterislt policy on the party using a block votes of the unions, allowing the left to cast a vote for unilateral disarmament on behalf of the unions despite the gat they were moderate and did not agree with the policy.
The policy was abandoned in a year.
Attitude towards Europe:
Attlee and gaitskell declared labour was opposed to joining the eec, this looked as though they were not moderate or progressive.
What happened in the 1959 election?
Conservatives increased their majority to 100 and came close to winning 50% of the vote.
C: 13m votes, 365 seats, 49.4% of the vote
Labour: 12m votes, 258 seats, 43.8 million votes
Liberals: 1m votes, 6 seats 5.9% of the vote
What were the reasons for the Conservatives’ victory in 1959?
+ the election coincided with a period of economic recovery
+ the conservatives had reduced income tax before the election
+ had a record of improving living standards and could offer security and prosperity
- labour promised an increase in state pensions but no raise in taxes, when asked how this would be funded they weren’t believed
Why did support for the conservatives decline?
Economy:
- balance of trade deficit and government attempted to fix it with “pay pause: and establishment of the national economic development council and national incomes commission: but they had no impact.
- unemployment began to rise and reached over 800,000 by the end of 1963, north and Scotland heavily impacted
- significant increase in nu,beer of days lost due to strikes, particularly in the docks
EEC rejection
- initially both parties didn’t want to join eec but dy ego loss of the moire and suez crisis, politicians began to realise the shift in status of Britain. The economic performance of the eec was far better than the UK.
Charles de Gaulle questioned Britains sincerity and commitment to Europe and rejected the application
Night of the long knives
- declining economy resulted in by-election losses in 1962 and labour was now far ahead in the polls
- macmillian decided a resguddle was needed. 1/3 of the cabinet was replaced, some improvement in his ratings afterwards but he was known as ‘Mac the knife’
Scandals
- Vassall was a civil servant in the admiralty who was a soy for the Soviet Union, rumours that senior figures in the admiralty had tried to cover up for him and thus created distrust
- Kim Phil by was a senior official at the foreign office who had been passing information to the ussr and had been recruiting spies for them. Fled to Russia in 1963 to avoid arrest
- 1963 Duke of Argyll sued his wife for divorce for adultry. 88 names with who she had orgies with, included some government ministers
- Profumo scandal. John Profumo liaison with Christine Keebler was a security risk due to her links through prostitution with the Russian embassy. He had met her at the home of an osteopath who treated a number of conservative MPs,
Social tensions and riots in 1958-59
Race riots:
Immigration had been encouraged to fill the labour shortage, however tensions developed when immigrants were blamed for housing shortages and job shortages where immigrants were willing to work for lower pay
- in Notting Hill, white youth tried to attack black owned and rented properties. The police struggled to maintain order but after the attackers received heavy prison sentences,
The government set up the salmon inquiry which concluded dnt he trouble was dye to creased immigration but made no ever eve to the racism or discrimination suffered by immigrants in matters of housing or employment
The government responded with the 1962 commonwealth immigration act which limited the number of immigrants depending on ethnic origin. As the act was passing through parliament , immigrants rushed to Britain.
Youth sub-culture
- clashes between mods and rockers who would confront each other in holiday resorts on bank holidays
How important was leadership in maintaining conservative leadership?
1951: Churchill was teh official leader. He was 77 when elected. In 1953 he had a stroke and was absent, Butler was the one who took over.
Butler was part of teh 1947 industrial charter, which accepted the concept of a mixed economy.
Butler was also responsible for the 1944 education act which showed he was concerned with social change
Butler was responsible for modernising the party.
Anthony Eden caused an increase in conservative majority due to his personal appeal and because he was fit
Because of the Suez Canal crisis, it showed that Eden had misjudged the mood of the country and was criticised for his mad venture, his decision to withdraw showed he lacked political will
Stepped down due to ill health
Macmillian became leader in 1957, he was successful because otherwise conservatives would have lost due to the Suez Canal crisis, election was in 1959
- he increased the conservative majority to 100
- personal appeal, appearances on television made him Super Mac, common phrase was “never had it so good”
- butler as Home Secretary introduced the Homocide act which gave the impression the party was changing its traditional and reactionary attitudes
However by 1961 the balance of trade deficit showed that there was a downturn in the economy
By 1962 unemployment was rising and the number of days lost to strikes was increasing
Cabinet reshuffle in 1962, he became known as mac the knife and the reshuffle was known as the night of the long knives
MacMillan became known as an international statesman, dismantled the empire and gave African states independence
- french vetoed the governments attempts to join the eec
- Profumo Affair also damaged reputation
- Macmillian resigned due to ill health
Douglas Home
- Macmillian didn’t want butler to become the next PM and so advised the queen to invite sir Alec Douglas home to become PM
- home was from an aristocratic background and thus seen to be out of touch with normal people
- chosen and backed by etonians, which gave the impression that the Conservative Party had not changed its image, some MPs like Enoch Powell said that they would to serve under home
- labour won the election the year after home became PM
- he was also faced with a revitalised Labour Party, under the leadership of Wilson
Was it ‘never had it so good’ or was it 13 wasted years?
