1951 Election Flashcards
What was a key reason for labours defeat in the 1951 election
Economic and financial difficulties
Shrinking Labour majority in 1950 - 5 MPs
What impact did the 1946-1947 winter crisis have on Britains economy
Fuel shortages damaged industrial production
Unemployment rose
Imports costly
Worsened balance of payments deficit
What economic problems did Labour face between 1949 and 1950
Post war costs
Attlees nuclear deterrent
devaluation
Inflations concerns led to wage freezes and tax increases
What was the cost of Britains nuclear deterrent under Attlee
Attlee committed to building a nuclear weapons program
Starting with the A Bomb 1952
H Bomb 1957
How did rationing affect Labour popularity
Continued rationing even after the war caused resentment among voters with Tory’s pledging to end it
Why was the pound devalued in 1949
Make British exports cheaper
Improve balance of payments
Increased costs of imports
What scandal in 1951 weakened labours reputation on national security
The defection of diplomats Guy Burgees and Donald Maclean to the soviet
What was the 1951 Bevanite Rebellion
Left wing Labour members led by Bevan resigned over NHS perscription charges, dental and optical charges
Why did the Korean War cause splits in the Labour Party
Left wing opposed Labours support for the USA
Fearing it could lead to nuclear war
How did the Conservative Party recover after 1945
Reorganised under Lord Woolton
Modernised under Butler
Promoting “one-nation conservation”
What was a key policy in the conservative 1951 manifesto
Promised to denationalise steel and iron Industries and end rationing
Why did the liberal party decline in the 1951 general election
They fielded fewer candidates leading liberal supporters to vote conservative
How did the first past the post system effect the 1951 election results
Labour won more votes - 48.8%
Conservatives - 48%
But conservatives won by more seats
321 vs 295
Who won the 1951 general election
Winston Churchill and the Conservative Party
