Chapter 1- 13 Wasted Years Intro

Question 1

Who claimed that Conservative governments from 1951-64 was 13 wasted years?

Answer 1

Harold Wilson and the Labour Party claimed in 1964 that Conservative rule between the years 1951-1964 amounted to 13 wasted years

Question 2

Why did Harold Wilson and the Labour Party name this 13 wasted years?

Answer 2

Lack of social and welfare reform during a time of increasing affluence for the nation

Question 3

Which historians argue this period was a ‘Golden Age’ for the economy?

Answer 3

Peter Hennesey and Larry Elliot argue this period was actually an economic “Golden Age”which saw increased living standards.

Question 4

What does the historian Barnet say about governments from 1951-64?

Answer 4

Barnet argues that this was a wasted opportunity to modernise and restructure the economy

Question 5

What was there by the end of conservative time in office?

Answer 5

By the end of Conservative time in office there was an inevitable culmination of long term economic decline

Question 6

What was K.O. Morgan’s summary point on this period?

Answer 6

‘Underlying the surface of growth was a pattern whereby Britain had steadily lagged behind other western nations’(K.O. Morgan, 1990)