51-64 Flashcards
why did the conservatives win the 1951 election
labour won more votes by conservative gained more seats due to the first past the post system
labour weaknesses
their number of votes polled was at the time the most ever polled by a political party which is hardly a sign of a party in decline
but the labour government were not as strong as they had been
difficulties in dealing with the post war economic problems had exhaused many in cabinet
labour were associated with austerity and rationing
had taken them into the korean war - the increase defence spending had led to a cut in NHS spending
conservative strengths
offered an attractive programme - promised to build ,300,000 houses
fully committed to the welfare state
they were united
many saw churchill as a hero and he was still an admired figure
conservative economic policies
stop go economics - meant that if the economy needed to be boosted the government would lower interest rates and reduce taxation to encourage spending
if the economy was growing too much it would increase interest rates and taxes
many felt like they didnt have an economic policy but followed a stop go approach that was unsustainable rather than developing a long rwem startegy that created growth
period was later described as stagflation
economic successes
the was high level of employment
economy supported growth in welfare spending and house building - built 1.7 million houses while in office
credible became widely available helped achieve a higher standard of living
economic failures
economic growth lagged behind many other countries in europe
its share of world trade fell
lot of money still went on defence expenditure rather than economic improvement
failure to modernise traditional industry
britain did not join EEC
suffered due to consistant price rises
unemployed rose in 1961 to 800,000
what were social changes
the war had blurred class distinctions and this was further reinforced by both the creation of the welfare state and growing afflunce
education - 6000 schools built. introduction of comprehensive education. butler act gave poorer childre the funding to go to grammer school
the level of real wages rose - increasing standard of living and affluence
more people went on foreign holidays than ever before
immigration had increased
conservative leadership - churchill
churchill had a great reputation as a wartime leader but his interest in domestic policy was lesss strong
churchill was 77 when he became PM
his ministers were in charge of his domestic and foreign affairs so were dominated by RA butler
conservative leadership - eden
replaced churhcill in 1955
in 1956 made a bad decision
suez crisis - misjudged the public mood and was heavily criticised for humiliating defeat
edens withdrawal of forces was seen as lack of policial will and was a clear sign the country was no longer a super power. eden stepped down in 1957
conservative leadership - macmillen
with butler as home secretary he moved towards ending death penalty, national service was ended
he was not able to stop growing economic problems
britain was not playing a significant role in any major world events
there was scandals involving some BUM of his ministers
he resigned in 1963
conservative leadership - home
he did not seem at ease with complex world economics
he had been chosen by the party and not the public
seemed out of touch with ordinary people
how weak was labour - internal disputes
party was divided between moving more right or moving more left
hugh gaitskell wanted to modernise the party
the left led by bevan wanted to extend the welfare state, public ownership and more trade union power
bevan argued clause IV would still be a major policy
left wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament so more money could be spent on social reforms. the right wanted britain to maintain its nuclear deterrent
how weak was labour - attitude to europe
labour was opposed to britain joining the EEC and this stance was continued by gaitskell
why did support for the conservative party decline - economy
there was balance of trade deficit
unemployment began to rise and was 800,000 by end of 1963
there was a significant number of days lost to strike
why did support for the conservative party decline - EEC
change in attitude towards europe was the economic performance of countries in the EEC
however the french president de gaulle had reservations about britains entry and rejected its application. this was humiliating and showed how weak britain was
