Conservative Government 1951 - 1964 Flashcards
(22 cards)
In 1945, Attlee’s Labour government won…
A landslide victory
The 1951 general election saw…
Conservatives win with a very close majority (17 seats)
Prime minister 1951 to 1955
Churchill
Prime minister 1955 to 1957
Eden
Prime minister 1957 to 1963
Macmillan
Prime minister 1963 to 1964
Douglas-Home
Churchill was…
Not the dynamic figure of WWII anymore
Churchill’s primary interest was…
International affairs
Churchill’s policies were…
Not a radical break from Attlee’s
Eden increased the Conservative majority to ____ in ____
60 seats
1955
Eden was soon criticised for…
His lack of interest in domestic affairs, inexperience in economic policy, and his conciliatory attitude towards trade unions
From ____ to ____, Macmillan’s government seemed in full control
1957 to 1962
Macmillan famously stated that…
Britain had never had it so good
What was a major reason for conservative dominance in 1951 to 1964?
Labour divisions
Who were the two rival leaders in Labour?
Gaitskell (right) and Bevan (left)
Who won leadership in Labour in 1955?
Gaitskell
Who criticised Gaitskell’s moderate policies?
Trade unions (particularly TGWU under left wing leader Frank Cousins)
Gaitskell was attacked by Labour politicians for…
His support for nuclear weapons
CND
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
In his Night of the Long Knives, Macmillan…
Sacked 1/3 of his cabinet in 1962
Name 3 scandals that damaged Macmillan’s reputation
Profumo Affair 1963
Blake spy scandal 1961
Vassal spy scandal 1962
Macmillan seemed increasingly ______, especially compared to_____
Out of touch
New Labour candidate Wilson
