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
British empire 1950’s
- by 50s, Britain was majorly decolonised
- empire still needs to exist because of the Cold War, spread of communism
why did the Suez Crisis happen
- Egypt granted independence in 1922
- full independence 1952 which abolished monarchy and created republic
- 1956, Colonel Nasser decided to nationalise the Suez Canal
- the canal was vital for British trade interests
- British shareholders had a significant 40% share in the canal
- angered PM, Anthony Eden
events of the Suez Crisis
`- britain and France persuaded the newly-formed state of Israel to attack Egypt
- Britain and France used the Israeli attack as an excuse for military invasion and almost immediately began to bomb Egyptian airfields late October 1956
- paratroopers were deployed in early November to force the Egyptians away from the canal
- Britain and France acted against the will of NATO and the UN
the Suez Crisis results
- The international community condemned the action
- The USA forced Britain to withdraw from Egypt
- The Soviet union threatened military action against the “aggressor”
- Anthony Eden lied to commons about it
- retired on grounds of “ill health” in January 1957
- england lost world power
why were the Conservatives able to dominate labour for so long - wages
- Wages rose faster than prices.
- income tax cut in 1955 and 1959
- feel good factor
- average wage 1951 £8.30
- 1964 £18.35.
- oversaw and 500% increase in car ownership
Why were the Conservatives able to dominate British politics for so long? - HOUSING
- built 2.8 million across period
- The Rent Act of 1957 abolished rent controls, meaning more houses were available to be rented.
- 44% of population owned home in 1964, 20% higher than before WW2.
Conservative issues employment 1951-1964
- The Tories had continued Labour’s promise of total employment
- unemployment continued to rise
- increased by 143,000
- emphasises 13 wasted years
Tory economic policies during the period
- Increased borrowing allowed more spending on healthcare and education
- ‘Butskellism’ - more welfare state, both private and public enterprise, keynsian economics
- Resulted in ‘stagflation’ - increase demand not supply
- stagflation: high inflation, high unemployment, slow economic growth
- Production costs were high in most heavy industry, Britain less competitive
