21.3 Internal labour divisions

Question 1

How did Labour do in the 1951 election?

Answer 1

Labour had ‘narrowly’ lost the 1951 election with 14m votes which had been greater than in any previous victory

Question 2

What was the opinion of Labour supporters in the 1950’s and the return of their parties power and did this turn out to be the case?

Answer 2

Most Labour supporters thought that they would soon return to power BUT there were deep divisions which made them less of a threat to the conservatives.

Question 3

What and who was on the LEFT of the Labour Party around the 1950’s?

Answer 3

• Wanted increased socialism
• This had been lead by Bevan (Prescription and glasses charges etc)

(Bevan resigned in 1951)

Question 4

What and who was on the RIGHT of the Labour Party around the 1950’s?

Answer 4

• Revise clause IV = less nationalisation
• Gaitskell won fight versus Bevan (prescription charges in 1951) this ‘increased the bitterness between the two factions’

Question 5

What external opposition to Labour had there also been during the 1950’s?

Answer 5

There had been opposition from TU’s who rejected the idea of less Nationalisation