conservative dominance 1951-1964 Flashcards
Who were the 4 Tory leaders between 1951-64
Who were the 4 Tory leaders between 18591-64
- Winston Churchill (1951-55) - won the 1951 election
- Anthony Eden (1955-57) - won the 1955 election
- Harold Macmillan (1957-63) - Won the 1959 election
- Alec Douglas-Home (1963-64) - Lost the 1964 election
Churchill’s 1951-1955
- Butler rather than Churchill who drove the party.
he was 70, people believed this was a belated thank you for WW2.
- Churchill was a figurehead, shown in 1953,when he was absent but not missed
- Butler was responsible for modernising the party, industrial charter 1947
- He also had a big role in the Education Act 1944. (was minister of education)
Sir Anthony Eden - 1955-57 - overview
- Eden called election after taking over, he won gaining 24 seats
- could be due to personal appeal but also butler
- Suez crisis bad, viewed Britain as no longer world power
- Less than 3 months after the crisis, Eden stepped down as PM.
- Mood was very negative to Tory’s, lucky no election
Harold Macmillan 1957-63 - overview
- Macmillan 300,000 houses a year, labour only 100,000
- named super-mac
- BUT
- unemployment rise from 250,000 to 800,000
- night of long knives sacked 7 ministers
- scandals
Macmillan’s successes as PM
- increased the Conservative majority to 100.
- personal appeal
- was on TV and got named ‘super-mac’
- stated that Britain had ‘never had it so good’.
- Butler helped (as Home Secretary) and changed appearance of party
- Homicide act 1957 modern
Macmillan’s failures as PM
- surrounded by scandals such as prostitutes
- By 1961, country was importing more than it was exporting, bad economy
- unemployment rising by 550,000
- 1962, more strikes
- July 1962, ‘the Night of the Long Knives’ he sacked 7 cabinet ministers
- did not help polls, given nickname Mac the knife
How was Macmillan damaged by things out of his control?
- Cold War showed Britain was no longer a world power
- The French stopped Conservative attempts to join the EEC (De Gaulle)
- The government were then hit by a number of scandals.
- Macmillan was also ill and had announced his intention to resign.
Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64
- Macmillan asked Queen to appoint Douglas-Home as PM.
- process of choosing seemed ridiculous in a democratic age
- man of aristocratic background to power, who was viewed as out of touch with the ordinary people.
- This made it clear the Conservatives were still routed in the past.
- There was resentment among some MP’s, Enoch Powell and Iain Macleod refused to serve under Douglas-Home.
- he faced Harold Wilson
- He lost
What were Conservative strengths in the 1951 election?
- More young politicians with new ideas
- Challenged the nationalisation of iron and steel
- Promised housing and meat
- Wouldn’t reverse welfare state
What were Labour weaknesses in the 1951 election?
- associated with austerity, rationing and high taxes
- failure to improve economy
- split e.g. Bevan wanted more nationalisation and Gaitskell concerned for economy
Liberals during 1951 election
- Decline of the Liberals
- more Tory voters
1955 election - conservative strengths
- voters were happy with rising wages and living standards
- period of affluence (wealth)
- 1% unemployed after Churchill
1955 election - labour weakness
- Gained the highest number of votes ever in 1951
BUT
- divisions within the party - conflict between Gaitskell and Bevan
- Attlee as visibly ageing and appeared weak
- divided over nuclear weapons and disarmament
1959 election - conservative strength
- the economy quickly recovered from the recession of 1958 under Macmillan
- macmillan high approval rating
- pre-election economic boom
- Macmillan was very popular and centre so got lots of votes
1959 election - labour weakness
- More British voters identified with middle class
- Labour appeal to working class less affective
- divided over nuclear with Bevan wanting none and Wilson wanting some
- out of touch with public over economy