Cons 1951-64: 7 Labour party 1951-64 Flashcards
what was an example of Gaitskell’s public speaking?
1956 when, with controlled fury, he shredded Eden’s attempt to justify the British invasion of the Suez canal zone
(Gaitskell was a gifted politician with a sharp analytical mind - it was believed he would one day become PM however he died at 57 in 1963)
what did the Bevanites want?
large trade unions, who they believed spoke for the working class, to have a major voice in the shaping of the party
what did unilateralists believe?
that Britain should give up its atomic weapons without waiting for a multilateral agreement between the nuclear powers to do so
(an issue that split the party)
what was the CND?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
founded in 1958 to agitate for unilateral nuclear disarmament
who was leader of the Labour party after Attlee and who did he win against?
Gaitskell, won against Bevan
what were the results of the 1959 election?
cons gained 21 seats whilst lab lost 19
365 cons v 258 lab
why did Labour lose the 1959 election?
- disagreements over the party image
- divisions over socialist policies such as nationalisation
- split over unilateralism
- uncertainty whether Britain should join the Common Market
in the campaign… - cons claimed to lead Britain towards prosperity ‘never had it so good’ 1957
- public perception that labs plans would result in higher taxes
labour did not appear progressive and forward looking
what was the CDS?
Camping for Democratic Socialism
Labour supporters who wanted the party to distance itself from the trade unions, nationalisation and unilateralism; a number of members went on to break from Labour in 1981 and form a new political party, the Social Democratic Party
what happened at the 1960 party conference?
dramatic climax when unilateralists imposed their policy on Gaitskell who would not give in to their demands
Gaitskell lost the vote in 1960 however a year later the party agreed to drop unilateralism as a party policy
