Chapter 1.1 - Conservative Governments, Labour Divisions and Conservatives Fall Flashcards
What were the results of the 1951 election
-Conservative party won the most seats
-Conservatives won 48% votes and 321 seats
-Labour won 48.8% votes and 295 seats
-Liberal won 2.5% votes and 6 seats
-Others 0.7% and 3 seats
Why did Conservatives win the 1951 election
-Churchill had a great reputation from leading Britain through WW2
-First-past-the-post system
Outline the prime minister 1951-55
He had been a cabinet minister and became PM during the war. Labour saw him as tired and old.
Outline key politicians in the Conservative government 1951-55
-Eden was talented and played key role as foreign secretary and was acting PM in Churchill’s absence
-R.A. Butler was Chancellor
-Macmillan was housing minister
What events occurred during the Conservative government of 1951-55
-Bevanite Quarrel
-Churchill spent time abroad
-Tension between Macmillan, Eden and Butler
What were criticism of the government 1951-56
-Churchill was ill and old. He also was more invested in international affairs so spent more time abroad.
-He was absent so often left acting prime minister
-There were tensions due to Eden, Butler and Macmillan’s rivalry
-Churchill didn’t believe in party politics
-Critical Conservative for post-war consensus had limited roles in his government
What was the result of the 1955 election
-Conservatives won 345 seats (49.7% votes)
-Labour won 277 seats and 46.4% votes
-Liberals won 6 seat and 2.7% votes
-Others won 2 seats and 1% votes
Outline the prime minister 1956-59
-Eden became prime minister in 1955 but resigned in 1957
-After 1957 Macmillan became prime minister
Outline key politicians involved in the Conservative government 1956-59
-R.A Butler was seen as possible party leader after Eden’s fall
-Macmillan was foreign secretary before becoming PM
Why did Conservatives win the 1955 election
-High hopes for Eden and his Conservative party
-Eden wanted Churchill to step down
What events occurred during the 1956-59 Conservative government
-Suez Canal Crisis
-Tried to move Macmillan from foreign office to Treasury in October 1955 but it was delayed till December (pre 1956- same gov)
-Party not unified
Criticisms of the government 1956-59
-Anxious about decision making mainly due to lack of economic knowledge
-Seen as too conciliatory with trade unions
-Suez Canal was a diplomatic, economic and political crisis and Eden came under heavy attack from Labour and the press. (Lied to House of Commons)
-Pressure from US exposed Britain’s financial weakness.
Result of the 1959 election
-Conservatives won 365 seats and 48.8% votes
-Labour won 258 seats and 44.6% votes
-Liberals won 6 seats and 6% votes
-Others won 1 seat and 0.6% votes
Who was prime minister 1959-64
Macmillan became PM in 1957 and resigned in 1963 and was replaced by Lord Home
Who were key politicians in the 1959-64 Conservative government
-R.A Butler was seen as possible party leader when Macmillan resigned and was home secretary
Why did the Conservatives win the 1959 election
-People saw Macmillan as the safe option as he had few enemies and Butler’s reputation was damaged due to tax cuts
-Macmillan was more popular in the party, and they chose the PM.
What events occurred during the 1959-64 Conservative government
-Economic prosperity and party unity was restored
-Macmillan was loved by the media
-NIGHT of the Long Knives
Criticisms of the 1959-64 Conservative government
-Weakened by WW2 AND Great depression repercussions
-Profumo Affair
-Macmillan lost his touch in July 1962 and reshuffled his cabinet - sacking 1/3
What was the post-war consensus between political parties in Britain
-Belief in mixed economy and both sides are and private enterprise
-Support for NHS and welfare state
-Wish to ensure full employment and to avoid the mass unemployment of the 1930s
-Working both with trade unions and employers
-Sometimes called ‘Butskellism’ Butler and Gaitskell
What was the Conservatives housing policy 1951-64
-Conservative Manifesto promised to build 300,000 houses a year. This would rebuild housing stock destroyed ruing the war and replace the slums people had used before it.
What was Labours policy in housing 1945-51
-High demand for housing after war
-Demand couldn’t be met due to large exports
-Licensing limited amount of private housing
-Council house renting increased after war
-200,000 houses built in 1950
-1,000,000 built 1945-50
-Better after 1918 but lower than expected
Labours education policy 1945-51
-Attlee’s government introduced acts of 1944 and 1945 which provided free education with tripartite system
-Family Allowances Act 1945 provided weekly payment of 5 shillings for every additional child after the first.
Conservative education policy 1951-64
-Tripartite system = grammar schools, technical school and secondary modern
-Children would take a test to see which they’d go to
-Financial restraints meant more secondary and grammar schools were built. Eden tried to promote technical schools during his short time.
Labours social reform policy 1945-51
-National Insurance Act created system of universal government, employee and employee contributions to provide against unemployment, sickness, maternity, widowhood and retirement.
-The National Assistant Act dealt with poverty
-The industrial Injuries Act provided cover for workplace accidents
-NHS act brought free medical treatments that was funded through taxation and National Insurance
