1951 - 1964 Flashcards
What is Butskellism?
A term coined by the Economist that described the consensus politics in 1950’s Britain, the Names of the conservative left RAB Butler and the Labour right Hugh Gaitskell were combined
What is consensus politics?
When both Labour and conservative policies and outlooks were very similar.
How old was Churchill when he took office?
77 years old
What health problems did Churchill Face?
He had already had two strokes and had a third one in June 1953, as a result he mainly acted as a figurehead for the conservatives - riding his wartime success and popularity.
What was Churchill’s cabinet like?
Churchill appointed many non conservatives to stress the non partisian character of his government.
Who were the two key ministers Churchill appointed in 195?
.
RAB Butler made the chancellor of the exchequer
Harold Macmillan made housing minister.
Summarize the main outlook of Churchill during this time
Churchill was cautious and wanted to keep people happy so made no drastic policy changes and continued labours social reforms like the NHS and kept all industries privatized except steel. as well as adopting a form of Keynesian economics
What was Churchills thoughts on the trade unions and what did he do with them?
Despite being against trade unions, Churchill supported trade unions and cooperated with them, he wanted to avoid a strike as that could have had a disastrous effect on the economy so he avoided confrontation through policies of compromise negotiation and arbitration
What quote best summarises Churchills political actions and outlook?
‘What we need is a time of steady, stable administration… a period of healing and revival’
Who was Churchills housing minister?
Harold Macmillan
How many houses did the conservatives pledge to build in their electoral manifesto?
300,000 houses
How many homes were built in 1953 and 1954?
1953: 327,000
1954: 354,000
How did Macmillan achieve and exceed the housing target?
Through his energy and gift for public relations
The powerful support he had
The personal support from Churchill which allowed him to get the subsidies he needed from the treasury
Why did the number of houses increase?
there were easier mortgages facilities
a relaxation of the licensing systems and control of land
What was Macmillan Criticised for as housing minister?
Too many domestic areas were being built rather than industrial zones The housing programme mainly benefitted the middle class and upper working class, not the true poor
What happened to Education in 1951 - 1955
The education minister Florence Horsburgh did relatively little
What things happened to health/NHS in 1951-1955?
The health minister Iain Macleod introduced a 2s (20p) prescription charge that came with little outcry.
He also set up the Guillebaud committee to report on the NHS’s finances which showed it to be cost effective and efficient.
But there was gaps and anomalies in public health expenditure as well as a shortage of proper hospital provision
What Balance of payments deficit did the conservatives inherit?
Deficit of £700 million
How Did RAB Butler (Chancellor of the exchequer) reduce the deficit?
Introduced a series of cuts on Credit Travel allowance Food subsidies Meat rations Imports The bank rate was raised from 2%-4% Excess profit levy introduced.
What was the balance of payments in 1952?
A surplus of £259 million
What external factors may have played a part in reducing the deficit??
The end of the Korean war
a marked fall in import prices
What happened as a result of the surplus?
Income tax cut in 1953/53
Interest rate reduced
Food rationing abolished
Most wartime restrictions and controls over the economy gone by 53/54
increased personal savings, home ownership and consumer goods like cars and washing machines
Why did the surplus lead to inflationary pressures?
Because more people were spending more money and paid less taxes, the cost of goods increased and inflation began to occur
What did Butler do to stop inflationary pressure?
Increased interests rate from 3 - 4.5$ in 1955 to encourage saving instead of spending
However he also cut income tax by a sixpence in the pound, giving people higher incomes potentially worsening inflation
In what way was Butlers economic policies a success?
The nation has near full employment, low inflation, low taxes, no balance of payments issues, and rising prosperity
Why do some people criticize butler?
He was called an ‘economic innocent’ as he had a policy that was not clear and kept contradicting itself, and his success may have been due to external factors like the end of the Korean war and a fall in marked import prices.
In what ways was there little progress made from the conservative government?
2s (10p) prescription charges introduced
very little progress for education
trade unions got what they wanted from Churchills compromises
by 1950’s 26,000 immigrants came in a year creating social and political issues that were not dealt with
What was the order of the day in Churchill’s eyes?
‘Consolidation rather than innovation was the order of the day’
How did Eden take over from Churchill?
Churchill resigned in April 1955, and Eden quickly took over from him Before calling a general election in the may of 1955.
How many seats did the conservatives win under Eden?
344 seats.
What happened in the 1955 May election regarding Labour and conservative voter share?
The conservatives gained 23 seats while labour lost 38 seats and 1.5 million votes
However voter turnout overall was much lower and both parties lost votes
The conservatives lost only 500,000.
What was the conservative total majority?
Overall majority of 58 (first time the conservatives had increased their majority over the past election in 40 years).
What were the reasons for conservatives winning and gaining a reasonably large majority?
Rising prosperity
The cut in income tax by a sixpence in the pound by Butler
End of rationing and Wartime restrictions
The housing success of Macmillan
Eden as foreign secretary saw success in Germany and SE Asia
Eden was a particularly effective campaigner particularly on TV.
What were the reasons labour lost the 1955 election?
the labour government was seen as ageing and out of date (Eden focused on this during his campaign)
The labour party was divided between the Bevanites and the right of the party making them a mostly ineffective oppositions (divided over prescription payments for medicines).
Where was Eden educated?
Oxford
What position had Eden held under Churchill?
He had been the crown prince since 1942, meaning he was next in line for prime minister and Churchills number 2.
Why did Eden resign as Foreign secretary pre WW2?
Resigned as foreign secretary as he hated Britain’s policy of appeasement when Germany was allowed to expand territorially unchecked, as a method of avoiding war. But later became foreign secretary again under Churchill’s wartime coalition.
Why was Eden not a fully suitable PM?
Despite having plenty of foreign experience, he lacked domestic skills and was ill when he took over as PM.
What did people think of Eden when he became PM?
He was generally liked and met with support with many seeing him as a typical English gentleman and despite being on the right he followed many of Churchills left/centrist policies regarding welfare.
When coming into power what were the two big changed Eden made?
Appointed Harold Macmillan as foreign secretary after his success as housing minister
Made the newcomer Selwyn Lloyd defence minister.
Other than this he did relatively little to fundamentally change the government he inherited.
Who was Chancellor of the exchequer when Eden became PM?
The popular with the people RAB Butler he remained in this position from May 1955 to December 1955.
What changes happened in Eden’s December 1955 cabinet reshuffle?
RAB Butler disappointed and angry when made Lord Privy seal and leader of the house of commons
Harold Macmillan replaces RAB Butler as chancellor of the exchequer
Selwyn Lloyd Replaces Macmillan as Foreign secretary.
What happens to RAB Butler from Churchill to Eden?
Churchill: Chancellor of the exchequer (Liked and successful)
Start of Eden (May 1955): Chancellor of the exchequer
Eden’s December cabinet reshuffle: Lord Privy seal and leader of the house of Commons (Unhappy and non departmental).
What happens to Macmillan from Churchill to Eden?
Churchill: Housing minister (happy and successful)
Start of Eden (May 1955): Foreign secretary
Eden’s Cabinet reshuffle (December 1955): Chancellor of the exchequer (unhappy).
What happens to Selwyn Lloyd from Churchill to Eden?
Churchill: N/A
Start of Eden (May 1955): Defence Minister
Eden’s Cabinet reshuffle (December 1955): Foreign secretary.
What is the reasoning by Eden’s cabinet changeovers?
Eden didn’t want the powerful and influential politician Macmillan to be in a powerful position like the foreign office so he ‘demoted’ him to Chancellor and replaces him as foreign sec with the newcomer Selwyn Lloyd who is inexperienced and easy to control
He demotes RAB Butler because he is worried about his level of power and the two were close rivals during Churchill’s premiership.
Why was Eden Criticised before Suez?
His cabinet reshuffling showed indecisiveness when arranging his cabinet which not only reduced voter intention for him but also damaged his relationships with other important ministers like Butler and Macmillan
He was criticised for being ‘nervous’ ‘jumpy’ and ‘bad tempered’ Increasing tensions all round between ministers and the public and the press continuously ran attacks on this.
What was Eden’s popularity on the opinion polls in 1955 compared to 1956?
1955: 70% in favour
1956: 40% in favour
(there was also a decrease in ‘safe seats’ for the conservatives during the by elections).
What external factor made Eden seem weaker as a leader?
The new leader of the opposition Hugh Gaitskell was considerably more tough than Atlee had been, making Eden’s flaws and misgivings all the more apparent, particularly highlighting Eden’s failure of Domestic policy.
Where is the Suez Canal?
Egypt - connecting the Mediterranean and the red sea.
Why was Eden upset when the canal was nationalized?
Egypt was a British protectorate
Britain received some of the income generated by the Suez canal
Britain had been heavily involved in protecting the canal in both world wars.
Why did Nasser decide to nationalise the canal?
He had been receiving loans that would help build the Aswan Dam from the USA and Britain, but upon learning he was also asking the soviet bloc for aid, the USA’s loans were withdrawn. In July 1956 he nationalised the canal as a method of raising funds.
Who was Egypt’s president?
Colonel Nasser
Why was France angry at Egypt?
The French were resentful of Egypt’s support of Arab nationalists in French Algeria.
Why was Israel angry at Egypt?
Egypt had become a major base for terrorist attacks on Israel after Israel was created in 1948 Muslim
Jewish tensions were high.
What did the Suez plan involve?
Israel would invade Egypt, UK and France would then step in as a peacekeeping force but with the real aim of seizing control of the Suez canal
The details were kept from the rest of the world and were only known in Eden’s cabinet.
What happened after the invasion?
US president was furious and said he condone the actions and put heavy financial pressures on the UK. The soviets also threatened to protect Egypt with rocket strikes.
What were the consequences of the Suez canal crisis internationally?
The US suggested that Britain should not be apart of the UN peace keeping force
The UN condemned Britain - damaging their standings in the international community
Israel was upset that Britain had not Finished the Job
he US was upset they were not involved in the plan and that it had seemed the USSR was the reason Britain withdrew as they had sent a formal note the day before the withdrawal
Britain didn’t act independently in a hostile military operation again
The Suez canal was a vitally important military position and that was gone.
What were the social consequences of the Suez crisis?
There were anti war protests on the streets 30,000 marched on Trafalgar square
Morale of the country worsened.
What were the political consequences of the Suez crisis?
Eden’s reputation was fatally damaged and following his return from Jamaica he resigned officially due to ‘ill health’
Labour - like the people - condemned Eden’s actions, Gaitskell and Bevan opposed Eden’s ‘mad venture’
Bevan gave a speech of Eden’s actions blackening Britain’s name.
What were the circumstances of Eden’s Resignation?
Eden went to Jamaica to recuperate and upon his return, he was met with a cold shoulder from his party
In 1957 he retired because of his ‘ill health’ but it was because of Suez.
Who were the two potential candidates to take over from Eden?
Harold Macmillan
RAB Butler.
