Conservative Gov. and Reasons for Political Dominance Flashcards
Conservative majority in 1955
An increase from 17 to 60
Conservative majority in 1959
100
Winston Churchill strengths
Wartime leadership reputation
International statesman
Had able ministers
Willingness to delegate
Winston Churchill weaknesses
Didn’t care much for domestic affairs
Old age and I’ll health - stroke in 1953
Anthony Eden strengths
Expert in foreign policy
Experienced - deputy to Churchill
Charming and popular
Anthony Eden weaknesses
Domestic inexperience - not easily discerned
Ill health
Weak leader - indecisive.
MacMillan strengths
Success as housing minister - good reputation
Calm reassuring presence
Good on TV
He was a one nation Conservative and in support of the postwar consensus
No desire to reverse most labour reforms of the 1945-51 gov.
MacMillan weaknesses
Seen as old fashioned
Ill health
R.A.B Butler strengths
He was a one nation Conservative supportive of the postwar consensus
He was experienced, holding a series of high ranking ministries
He was responsible for influential policies like the tripartite system and the review of capital punishment
Modernised conservative policies 1945-51
R.A.B. Butler weaknesses
Tendency to be indecisive
Never prime minister
Divisive and unpopular with colleagues
Douglas-Home strengths
Conciliatory figure
Abolished the policy of Resale Price Maintenance under his premiership
Douglas-Home weaknesses
Out of touch
Not elected as party leader
Little experience in domestic policies
What was the attraction to conservative domestic policies
Adhered to the post war consensus
Success of housing policy
Success of NHS
Attitude to trade unions
What was the theory behind the post-war consensus
Mixed Economy
Support for the NHS and welfare state
Ensure full employment
Work with both trade unions and employers
How successful was the housing policy
Built 300,000 houses by 1953
Replaced the slums left in the aftermath of the war
Macmillan reputation
Social reforms of the conservative rule
Continued NHS and welfare state funding
Clean air act 1956
Butlers Homicide Act 1957
Wolfenden commissions proposals on homosexuality
Showing of acceptance of a mixed economy
Only denationalised steel and iron in 1953
Key industries remained nationalised
Conciliatory attitude towards trade unions
3 issues creating labour divisions
Prescription charges
Clause IV - commitment to ownership of major industries
Nuclear weapons
Left wing views within the Labour Party
No prescription charges
Supportive of nationalisation
Many supported the CND (campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)
Supportive of Nye Bevan as potential leader
Views from the right of the Labour Party
Necessary to introduce prescription charges
Against unilateral disarmament
Saw nationalisation as to only be used when appropriate
Supportive of Hugh Gaitskell as party leader
Overview of labour at this time
Constant dispute over the parties direction to more left or right
Lack of decisiveness on the way forward - socialist or conformist to tradition
Debate over key policies
Trade union opposition to Gaitskell as leader
Scarborough conference and the widening of division.
Four key reasons for the conservatives 1964 election loss
Out of touch image
Scandal
Labour unity under Wilson
Conservative failures
Why were the conservatives viewed as out of touch
‘Night of the Long knives’ - Macmillans desperate reshuffle of his cabinet
Image of Home and MacMillan as aristocratic and Edwardian gentlemen
Wave of social change in the 60s
Targets of the increasingly popular satirical media - The week that was, Private Eye.
Conservative scandals in this era
The Profumo affair - denial in parliament
Vassal case 1962 - British spy blackmailed on the basis of his homosexuality to pass info to the Soviet Union
George Blake 1961 convicted of being a soviet double agent.
