Cons 1951-64: 1 Lab defeat, Con victory 1951

Question 1

when did Attlee lose office?

Answer 1

1951

Question 2

how many seats did cons and lab win in the 1951 election?

Answer 2

con 321, lab 295

Question 3

why was the 1951 election a strange victory?

Answer 3

labour won 250,000 more votes but the cons won more seats and ultimately won

Question 4

why were labour defeated in 1951?

Answer 4

• 6 years in office - worn down by financial difficulties
• divisions between right and left wing of the party
• resentment among some trade unions at Labour’s slow reaction to demands
• shrinking in the 1950 election of its previously large majority
• found it difficult to shake image as the party of austerity, high taxes and rationing

Question 5

what were the cons strengths?

Answer 5

• younger MPs with bright, new ideas such as R.A. Butler
• began to recover from shock 1945 defeat
• reformed their finances with help from Lord Woolton
• attack on gov’s nationalisation of iron and steel provided strong platform for opposition attacks
• image that they upheld liberty and individualism