4: Labour In Power 1945-51 Flashcards
Why was there another general election after WWII?
Churchill and Attlee wanted to keep their coalition government going until Japan was defeated but the Labour Party and liberals rejected this idea. They wanted a fresh start for Britain.
When did Churchill step down and when was the 1945 election?
Churchill resigned on 23rd May 1945
Election was on 5th July
What was the conservative manifesto for the 1945 general election?
It was very focused on Churchill - one slogan was “let him finish the job”
They promised better housing and help for the poor even though they were against that in previous years in parliament
Too confident in Churchill magic and didn’t get the reforms right
What big mistake did Churchill make in the election campaign?
In a radio broadcast, Churchill said to warn people of labour socialist policies, he said a socialist state would never work without a gestapo to run it. He was comparing labour to the Nazis despite Attlee being deputy prime minister during the war.
When was the bevridge report published?
1st December 1942
Who made the Beveridge Report? Was it popular?
Ernest Bevin, minister of labour set up a committee to suggest how to improve life in Britain after the war. William Beveridge was chairman and he made the report which was 300 pages long. Many conservative MPs disagreed with it but it had huge public support, it sold over 70,000 copies in the first few days.
What five Giants did the Beveridge report fight?
Want - lack of basic needs like food Ignorance - lack of proper education Disease - lack of proper medical care Squalor - poor living conditions Idleness - unemployment
What happened before the election to improve life in Britain to do with the Beveridge Report?
Education Act 1944 - restructured school system and free education up to 15
Family Allowances Act 1945 paid mothers 5 shillings a week for every child after the first
Free milk and free school meals set up in 1942
To do with the Beveridge report, why was labour elected in in 1945?
People didn’t trust the conservatives to act on the Beveridge report and labour came up with most of the laws in the report.
What are some details about the Beveridge Report? Specific details.
Scheme to set up the NHS
1946 New Towns Act - 17 new towns built in England and 4 towns enlarged and 750000 new houses built
Education Act- free education up to 15
National Insurance Act 1946 - unemployment, maternity and sickness benefit and pensions
National Assistance Act 1946- poor law benefits abolished, help for homeless, disabled and mentally ill
Who are the BMA?
British Medical Association
Why didn’t the BMA want the NHS?
Didn’t want to work for the government
Thought they’d be paid less
Thought health care wouldn’t be as good
Why did the BMA finally agree with the NHS?
They knew health care needed reforms after the war
Bevan (minister of health) persuaded them with money and kept persuading the BMA by showing all the benefits.
When did the NHS begin?
Passed in November 1946
Actually started in July 1948
When was the national health service act?
Discussed in 1949
Came into practise in 1952
