How Important A Factor Was Conservative Leadership In Maintaining Power Flashcards
How many different leaders did the Conservative party have from 1951 to 1964?
4
Who was leader of the Conservative Party for elections from 1951 to 1964?
Winston Churchill won in 1951
Anthony Eden won in 1955
Harold Macmillan won in 1959
Alec Douglas-Home lost in 1964
Who was the driver force in the Conservative party in 1951?
R.A. Butler
How old was Churchill when he won the 1951 general election?
77
What was the main reason for the Conservative win in 1951?
A belated thank-you for the victory in WW2
What is evidence of Churchill being no more than just a figure head in the Conservative government in 1951 to 1955?
When he suffered a stroke in 1953 and was absent for some time
What is an example of Butler playing a significant role in helping recover the Conservative Party post 1945?
Butler was involved in the production of the 1947 party ‘industrial charter’ which accepted the principle of a mixed economy
What legislation did Butler help introduce to show he was also concerned with social issues?
The 1944 Education Act
When Butler was in office as the chancellor what ground of politics did he stick to?
Centre ground
Why did Eden gain a larger majority after the 1955 general election?
Due to Eden’s personal appeal, particularly to many women voters, and due to the work of Butler
What was the reason for Eden’s short lived government?
The Suez Crisis in 1956
Why was Eden determined to succeed abroad?
He had been foreign secretary on three separate occasions, with the press being critical of his lacklustre domestic policy
In which years was Macmillan prime minister?
1956-1963
In the 1959 election two big of a majority did Macmillan’s conservative government increase to?
100 seat majority
What was the key reason for Macmillan’s success at the electorate?
The growing prosperity and affluence and Macmillan’s personal appeal
What was legislation, brought in by Butler as some secretary, that changed many peoples image of the Conservative Party?
The Homicide Act
What was evidence of a downturn in the economy in 1961?
A balance of trade deficit
What was evidence of a downturn in the economy in 1962?
Unemployment was rising and the number of days lost to strike
What was a drastic comparison made when Macmillan had a cabinet reshuffle to try and breathe new life into a tried government in July 1962?
‘Night of the Long Knives’
What did Macmillan realise and make clear in 1960 that got him a lot of protests from within the Conservative Party?
The inevitable dismantlement of the British Empire
What were 2 incidents in foreign affairs that affected the popularity of the Macmillan government?
The Cold War showing Britain was no loner a major power and the French vetoing the Conservative attempts at joining the EEC
What was a scandal that affected the reputation of the Macmillan government and the conservative party?
The Profumo Affair in 1963
What was Macmillan’s final act as leader that eventually damaged the Conservatives image and contributed to defeat in 1964?
Ask the party to follow ‘customary processes’
Why did Butler not become prime minister in 1964 when he was in a leadership race abasing Lord Halisham (Quintin Hogg)?
Macmillan advised the Queen to invite Sir Alec Douglas-Home to be prime minister as he had believed Home was the safer choice, after originally backing Halisham
What was the publics view of Douglas-Home?
He was an ‘old-boy’ who was a man of aristocratic power
How was Douglas-Home chosen as Prime Minister and why was it criticised?
On the recommendation of Macmillan to the Queen which seemed quite ridiculous that one man can choose the PM in a democratic state in a democratic age
What was the main reason for the Conservative loss in 1964?
The economy on a downturn, Douglas-Home being not popular with the public, resentment of the leader in the Conservative Party and a revitalised Labour
