Consensus Politics (1945-79)

Question 1

Why did WWII spark the idea of consensus?

Answer 1

• National Government proved the ministers from rival parties could work together
• Changed the role of the government - State forced to take more control
• Beveridge Report 1942 - A welfare state should care for a person from ‘cradle to grave’

Question 2

Name the ‘selfless acts’ passed by the Atlee Government

Answer 2

Family Allowance Act 1945 - Created child benefits for the first time - gave an allowance of 5 shillings a week for the younger child, paid to the mother
National Insurance Act 1946 - Made unemployment and sickness benefits available to all workers, and paid a state pension to those over 65
National Health Service Act 1946 - Brought the whole population into a scheme of free medical and hospital treatment
Education (Butler) Act 1944 - Compulsory free education, exams at age 11, sent to grammar, modern or technical schools after exam

Question 3

Name the ‘Father of the NHS’

Answer 3

Aneurin Bevan

Question 4

Who was Aneurin Bevan?

Answer 4

• MP of the Labour Party
• Grew up in a poor working-class family
• Began working in a coal mine at 13
• Became a TU activist
• 1929 - Elected as a Labour MP
• 1945 - Became the Minister of Health
• Resigned this position in protest at the introduction of prescription charges for dental care and glasses

Question 5

Why did Labour lose the 1951 election?

Answer 5

• Growing dissatisfaction over continued rationing
• Were not bringing economic recovery quick enough
• Taxation was considered too high (45%)

Question 6

List the leaders of the 13 Conservative Years

Answer 6

• Churchill (51-55)
• Anthony Eden (55-57)
• MacMillan (57-63)

Question 7

What did the Conservatives achieve in their 13 Golden Years?

Answer 7

• Made a commitment to building 300,000 houses a year - 1953, built over 300k houses
• Iron and Steel denationalised in 1953 - public were fed up of the government owning it
• 1962 - New hospitals to be built within the next 10 years
• Pledged that 6k new schools would be built
• 1963 Robbins Report - Suggested an increase in the amount of universities was necessary - 7 new ones were established
• Wages increased by 72%
• Families overall experienced better living standards

Question 8

What were the negatives of the 13 Golden Years for the Conservatives?

Answer 8

• Failure to tackle inflation for increasing fear of unemployment
• Humiliation at Suez
• Conservative popularity declined by 1962
• Increased consumer spending led to further inflation
• People had become more opposed to the establishment
• Failed to gain entry to the European Economic Community in 1963

Question 9

What problems did Churchill face? (51-55)

Answer 9

• Poor health
• Not considered the same Churchill that won the war
• Retired 1955

Question 10

What was the problem that Anthony Eden faced? (55-57)

Answer 10

Suez Crisis

• Invasion of Egypt by Israel in 1956 - was followed by the UK and France
• Aims were to regain control of the Suez Canal for the Western Powers by removing the President
• US president strongly warned the 3 invaders previously not to invade, thus threatened them with serious damage financially, by selling the US government’s £ sterling bonds (for Britain)
• Eden gave in - seen as weak from the public

Question 11

What were the problems that MacMillan faced? (57-63)

Answer 11

• 1959 - Chancellor, Treasury Minister and Financial Secretary resign - government were spending too much money
• 1962 ‘Night of the Long Knives’ - MacMillan sacked 7 cabinet members - made him seem ruthless and irrational

Question 12

What is Keynesian Economics?

Answer 12

Economic idea that increasing government expenditure and decreasing taxes, would ultimately increase employment and better the economy as a whole

Question 13

What are the positives of Harold Wilson’s Labour? (1964-70)

Answer 13

• Created 2 departments: Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Technology
• National Plan (1965) - Ambitious plan to expand the economy, however lacked funds
• 1965 Race Relations Act - Banned racial discrimination in public places
• 1967 Abortion Act - Legalised abortion
• 1970 - Equal Pay Act

Question 14

What are the problems with Harold Wilson’s Labour? (1964-70)

Answer 14

• Previous government left country in £8 billion deficit
• Wilson was eventually forced to devalue the £ in 1967
• End of 60s - Unemployment had risen - 900k in 1964

Question 15

What are the positives with Edward Heath’s Conservative? (1970-74)

Answer 15

• 1971 Industrial Relations Act - Limited TU power

- 1973 - Joined European Economic Committee

Question 16

Explain the political ‘U’ turn of Heath’s government?

Answer 16

1971/72

• Due to cuts in income tax and government spending, inflation soared
• Unemployment risen to 1 million in 1972
• Heath decided to return to increased government controls in prices and incomes
• Brought down unemployment to 550k by 1974

Question 17

What were the Economic problems with Harold Wilson and James Callaghan’s Labour? (1974-79)

Answer 17

• 1973 Oil Crisis
• 1975- Chancellor abandoned commitment to full employment ideas in order to limit inflation
• 1976 - £ devalued to the lowest point against the $
• IMF Loan - Forced to take out a £4 billion loan to cope with economic crisis

Question 18

What were the Trade Union problems faced by Harold Wilson and James Callaghan’s Labour? (1974-79)

Answer 18

• Labour party abolished the Industrial Relations Act - replaced it with a ‘social contract’ - not liked by the TUs
• TU members wanted a pay increase
• Winter of Discontent 78/79 - Widespread strikes
• Rubbish in the street, dead bodies not being buried etc