Conservative dominance from 1951 and postwar consensus Flashcards
Conservative majoity 1951
17
Why was a second election called by Attlee in 1951
He only had a majority of 5
Labour government was unpopular
The continued policies of rationing, housing shortages, and a period of austerity
Conservative promises over house building
300,000 houses a year
How did Churchill appeal to the public
Amidst the Korean War his credentials as a worlds statesman were favourable
He promised to set people free from socialist rules
How did Woolton revitalise the conservatives
He appealed to party members and business for £1 million for campaigning
He encouraged the selection of candidates from a variety of social backgrounds
Conservative membership by 1952
Grown to 2.8 million, including many young members
What policies of the Attlee government did the conservatives accept
Keynesian economics and positive relations with the unions
When was rationing ended
1954
When were ID cards abolished
1952
Why was the period 1945-70 labelled as a postwar consensus
Similarities in economic policy, mixed economy was best and aimed for full employment
How did Churchill’s government contribute to the post war consensus
Many nationalised industries remained and unions were given a prominent role
Bevanites
The left of the Labour party who argued for greater state control and direction of the economy and society
Wanted large trade unions
Unilateralists
Wanted a reduction in nuclear power as they believed that it would save Britain money to spend on the under privileged
CND Movement
Anti American and pro Soviet who didn’t want to see the Soviet Union fall too far behind the West in the arms race
Gaitskell’s decisions over the internal disputes
He stood on the moderate centre right of the party and believed that he had the mandate to steer the party apart from Bevanite views
Increased disputes after the 1959 election
Gaitskell accused the left of weakening the party by their demand for unilateralism
Whereas the left attacked Gaitskell for dropping nationalisation as a primary policy
CND
A group created after the 1959 election to support Gaitskell which argued that it was undemocratic for the left to influence the leaders of large trade unions
1960 Labour Party Conference
A victory for the left of the party as the unilateralists forced their policy on the party using the voting block of the major unions
1955 general election results
Conservatives won 345 seats, a majority of 58
Eden Suez Canal crisis
Sent British troops to protect the canal against the nationalisation of the Suez Canal, but then had to withdraw them
Main reason why Eden resigned
1959 election results
MacMillan won an easy election victory of 365 seats, a majority of 100
1959 Budget
Massively boosted the economy
The Rent Act 1957
Allowed landlords to charge higher rents to help improve their property
810,000 properties moved out of rental control
Life Peers Act 1957
Introduction of peers into House of Lords rather than an inheritance
Homicide Act 1957
Reserved the death penalty for 5 cases of murder
Gradually abolished capital punishment
What happened to the economy in 1963
It stagnated
Unemployment in 1963 under MacMillan
900,000
Stop go policies
A real issue for the conservatives which failed to address industrial decline
There would have been greater affluence without these policies
Issues with trade unions
Union reform was not tackled or wage freezes introduced
They were excluded form the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act 1956
Blamed for limited production
Days lost in 1957 due to strike action
8.5 million working days
Orpington by-election
A loss for the conservatives who saw their majority go from 15,000 to a Liberal majority of 8000
MacMillan’s cabinet reshuffle
A response to the poor performance in the Orpington by-election, nicknamed the Night of the Long Knives where 7 members were sacked
Profumo Affair
MacMillan’s Secretary of State for War had an affair with Christine Keeler, who was already in a relationship with a Russian naval attache
It led to Profumo resigning and damaged the credibility of the conservatives
