ADV INFO - Labour Party Divisions Flashcards
Who was Hugh Gaitskell
leader of the Labour party from 1955
who were the bevanites
followers of Aneurin Bevan’s policies, a policy of the old left which focused on Marxism and large public spending
Who were the left-wingers
people on the left side of the Labour Party who opposed Gaitskell and supported more government spending and left-wing policies
Who were unilateralists
people who supported one-sided action, such as one-sided nuclear disarmament
what was the CND
campaign for nuclear disarmament
What was Labour split over
the extent to which socialism should go
What were the two big factions in the Labour party
between the followers of Gaitskell and the Bevanites
Who resigned over the introduction of NHS charges
Bevan and Wilson
who became the focus of Labour dissent
Bevan, especially after his rival Hugh Gaitskell assumed the Labour leadership in 1955
when did Harold Wilson become the leader of the labour party
1963
what was the most divisive issue for Labour
defence
what did Bevan do in 1950s
support by Wilson, Richard Crossman and Barbara Castle, they opposed the official pro-nuclear, pro-American policy
how many MPs were seen as Bevanites
32 MPs
what had happened to Labour relations by 1952
57 labour MPs risked dismissal after ignoring the party whip on defence issues
what did Bevan do in 1954
he defied Attlee’s instructions to support proposals in the Commons for the manufacture of a hydrogen bomb
what was another controversial issue within the party
public ownership of industry
what did Gaitskell hope to rewrite
Clause IV of the party’s constitution, which had committed it to wholesale nationalisation
who supported Gaitskell’s move to rewrite Clause IV
Labour right-winger Tony Crosland, believed in a bigger welfare state, but funded by economic growth and built on the efficiently managed industry within a mixed economy
what did the issue of Clause IV lead to
intense conflict at successive Labour conferences during Gaitskell’s period as leader.
who opposed any abandonment of the commitment to nationalisation
Arthur Deakin (transport and generals workers union leader), Tom Williamson (municipal workers leader) and William Lawther (miners’ union leader)
what happened in 1957 to suggest relations were improving
Bevan was appointed Shadow Foreign secretary and made a devastating speech promising that, if, in power, he would not allow future Foreign secretaries to go naked into the conference chamber’ - a reference to the possibility of unilateral nuclear disarmament
what was the issue with Bevan’s speech
it outraged his former supporters on the left, who maintained their opposition to the leadership
what did Gaitskell say during the 1959 party conference
he would fight, fight and fight again to save the party that I love
What was Gaitskell defeated over
the issue of Clause IV by an alliance of unions and left-wingers
what happened to Gaitskell in 1960
he also lost the conference vote against unilateral disarmament
