Economy under the Conservatives Flashcards
Increase in real wages?
25%
Opinion of political commentator Andrew Gamble?
The 1950s were the golden years of the conservatives.
How were the years under labour previously described?
‘austerity’
How were the years under conservatives generally described?
‘affluence’
How did Harold Wilson describe the years under conservatives?
‘thirteen years wasted’
What was the conservative slogans in 1959 election?
‘never had it so good’
‘Life is better under the conservatives’
World trade decrease in Britain?
25% - 15%
Defence expenditure of Britain (percentage of GDP)
10%
Why was money spent on military?
Independent nuclear arms programme
Maintaining military bases
What percentage of British research funds went towards defence and not industrial growth?
34.5%
World trade increase in Germany?
7% to 20% (1951-64)
What was prioritised overseas?
Maintaining strong sterling area
Proof that increase in wages was not due to inflation?
Wages rose faster than products
Wages increase?
Weekly average wage of an adult:
1951 - £8.30
1964 - £18.35
Reduction in taxes?
1955 - 2.5p
1959 - 3.75p
Percentage rise in car ownership?
500%
Percentage rise in TV ownership?
4% to 91%
What could borrowers now do under conservative government?
Borrow money and repay in monthly instalments over a number of years
How many houses did conservative government promise to build each year in 1951 election?
300,000
How many houses built?
1954 - 354,000
1.7 million while conservatives were in office
1957 Rent Act meaning
Abolished rent controls and resulted in more houses available to rent
No. people who owned property increase?
25% before WW2
44% by 1964
Macmillan’s speech in 1957 (Bedford)
‘most of our people have never had it so good’ due to ‘industrial towns’
Chancellor from 1951-5?
R. A. Butler
What did Butler focus on?
Increased government expenditure in:
- health
- education
- housing
Increase in GDP during conservative government?
1951 - 16.1%
1964 - 19.3%
Who were Butler’s policies similar to?
Right Labour Chancellor Hugh Gaitskell
Butler was Left Conservative Chancellor.
Ideology called ‘Butskellism’
What import controls were in place?
Prevented purchases from abroad.
Evidence of stop-go policy?
- When demand for goods fell, taxes and interest lowered and import controls relaxed.
- Taxes decreased around elections
- Unemployment rate unstable (Between 1957 and 1958 the unemployment rate increased from 383,000 to 536,000)
Stagflation:
- Industrial output declines and inflation remained.
- Payment deficit slowed recovery and growth. Cutting taxes increased spending and inflation.
- Textiles and shipbuilding companies declined.
Unemployment figures?
1951 - 367,000
1964 - 501,000
Butler’s response to the growing affluence of the welfare state?
‘the Conservative must be seen to have accommodates themselves to a social revolution.’
Three-tier secondary education system?
- Grammar
- Technical
- Secondary modern
Reinforced class divisions.
Conservatives at local level disliked, but party accepted it.
Who pushed for the abolition of the 11+?
Edward Boyle (Minister of Education)
Who built the first purpose-built comprehensive schools?
Conservatives and not Labour
Robins Report date?
1963
Robins Report overview?
Comprehensive principles into higher education by expanding universities and providing larger grants.
How many new schools and universities built?
6000 new schools
11 new universities built
Homicide Act date?
1957
What was the Homicide Act 1957?
Accelerated the process which ended the death penalty.
- Liberal reform carried out by Butler as Home Secretary.
France TVs popularity?
1960 –> 17%
