Conservative 13 years Flashcards
1951 election
Churchill wins
Labour were exhausted and many senior politicians decided to resign, Labour had put GB in Korean War, Labour Party was divided over prescription charges.
Conservatives were reorganised, Lord Woollen reformed the party finances and local organisation. Influx of young talented politicians. They offered an attractive programme with 300k houses a year and promised more red meat, Churchill also views as right man to lead Korean War
Churchill 1951-1955
WC was 77 and weak- Butler was the driving force of the party- 1953 WC has stroke
WC ended Korean War which increased his popularity
Ended rationing in 1954- pleased the population
Crime rates decreased under WC
Built 300k houses a year
Introduced the hire purchase
Inflation decreased by 1953
Increased employment
Eden 1955-1957
Increased Conservative majority in parliament straight away
Suez crisis 1956= failed invasion of Egypt- angered USA as they weren’t informed
“Run on the pound”- pound fell in value in international markets
Edens reputation never recovers so resigns in 1957
Macmillan 1957-1963
Growing prosperity and affluence- naturally occurred
Personal appeal of the electorate- appearances on TV won HM a lot of support- earned the nickname ‘Super Mac’
Homicide act- changed peoples view on the party
Macmillan wanted new life in his gov so reshuffled his cabinet “night of the long knives”
1961- BoP deficit was evidence of decline in economy
1962 unemployment increased along with strikes
‘Winds of change speech’ = independence available
Development of Cold War showed GB as weak
French vetoed EEC application
Scandals affected the gov
HM resigned due to illness and declining reputation
Douglas-Home 1963-1964
Chosen through recommendation of HM rather than through an election- angered the population
Abolition of the resale price maintenance
Tough stance on dealing with trade unions
Relations with USA deteriorated due to sale of British Leyland busses to Cuba
How weak was the Labour Party during 1951-1960
Internal disputes- party was divided over whether it wanted to move further to the left or right.
Nuclear Policy- also divisions over Labours nuclear policy, left wanted unilateral disarmament so that more money was available for social reforms, right opposed disarmament and wanted GB to maintain is nuclear deterrent.
Attitudes to Europe- Attlee and Gaitskell declared that Labour was opposed to joining EEC which hardly gave the party the appearance of modernisation and progression
Why did support for the Conservative Party decline?
Economy- BoP deficit and the governments plans to reduce it had no noticeable impact, Unemployment began to rise and reached over 800k by end of 1963
EEC rejection- EEC was posting great economic performance and many wanted to join in order to save GB’s economy
Scandals- Profumo affair, Vassal affair, the Philly case and the Argyll divorce case
Social problems- social tensions and riots, race riots
