How important a factor was Conservative leadership?

Question 1

What was Churchill and how was this demonstrated?

Answer 1

Nothing more than a figurehead as he was frail and sustained in power by his reputation: not missed after a stroke in 1953

Question 2

What did Butler provide? Think Churchill

Answer 2

The drive and ideas for the Churchill premiership

Question 3

Why was Butler a significant figure?

Answer 3

He played a significant role in helping the party recover after 1945, ensuring it developed new and modern ideas

Question 4

What was he involved in in 1947?

Answer 4

The production of the industrial charter in 1947, whereby the party accepted the principle of a mixed economy

Question 5

What did Butler’s involvement in the 1944 Education Act indicate?

Answer 5

That he was concerned with social issues, an area that many perceived the Conservatives ignored

Question 6

What did his policies allow the party to do and what was Butler responsible for?

Answer 6

Appeal to the centre ground of politics

Modernising the party and helping Eden secure victory in the 1955 election

Question 7

What happened in 1955?

Answer 7

Eden replaced Churchill and soon after called an election, increasing their majority to 60

Question 8

What did Eden have?

Answer 8

A personal appeal, particularly to female voters

Question 9

What was the impact of Suez in 1956?

Answer 9

Damaged the administration

Misjudged the mood of the people with a ‘mad venture’

The decision to withdraw was evidence of lack of political will and a sign that Britain was no longer a major power

Question 10

What did the press criticise?

Answer 10

Eden’s domestic policy

Question 11

What happened in 1957?

Answer 11

Eden stood down and was replaced by Macmillan who was fortunate he didn’t have to go to the electorate

Question 12

Why was Macmillan successful?

Answer 12

Won the 1959 election

Increased the Conservative majority to 100

Question 13

What did Macmillan preside over, what did he have, and what was he able to do?

Answer 13

Growing prosperity and affluence

Personal appeal

Turn the image of ‘Super Mac’ to his advantage

Question 14

What can Macmillan’s success also be attributed do?

Answer 14

The work of Butler as home secretary

The Homicide Act gave the party the appearance of modernity

Question 15

What happened in 1962?

Answer 15

‘Night of the Long Knives’ as Macmillan sacked 16 ministers

Question 16

What did Macmillan gain the reputation for and why?

Answer 16

A world-class statesman

Realised that the empire had to be dismantled, despite protests from within the party

Question 17

What happened in 1960?

Answer 17

Called for the need to recognise the ‘wind of change’ blowing through Africa

Question 18

What damaged Macmillan’s image?

Answer 18

Cold War developments that revealed Britain was no longer a major power

French veto

Question 19

What were the scandals a sign of?

Answer 19

Macmillan’s loss of grip

Question 20

What did Macmillan do in 1963 and what was the impact?

Answer 20

Announced his intention to resign and asked the party to follow ‘customary processes’ in choosing his successor

Damaged the party’s image

Question 21

How did Douglas-Home become leader?

Answer 21

Macmillan did not wish to see Butler succeed and used his position to advise the Queen to invite Sir Alec Douglas-Home to be prime minister

Question 22

What did the process of choosing a leader by sounding out the cabinet and MPs seem to be?

Answer 22

Ridiculous in a democratic age, particularly as it brought to power a man of aristocratic background who was perceived by many to be out of touch with ordinary people

Question 23

Who was Douglas-Home chosen by and what was this a sign of?

Answer 23

An ‘old-boy’ network

That the party had not changed its image

Question 24

What was the impact of ADH?

Answer 24

Enoch Powell and Iain Macleod stated they would not serve under Douglas-Home

Question 25

What did Douglas-Home face?

Answer 25

A revitalised Labour, with a new programme, under the youthful and dynamic leadership of Wilson

Question 26

What was unsurprising/surprising?

Answer 26

That Labour won in 1964

The narrowness of the victory