Labour Divisions Flashcards
When did Hugh Gaitskell succeed Attlee?
1955
What was Gaitskell known as? How did he use this skill?
An impressive oratory speaker. Known for parliamentary performance in 1956: Destroyed Eden’s attempt to justify the British occupation of Suez Canal
What did 1950s see in Labour party? Why was this harmful?
Splits within the Labour party between Bevan and Gaitskell over prescription charges.
Harmed effectiveness of Labour party to the Conservative Government
What caused further tension between Bevan and Gaitskell?
Leadership struggle in 1955
What did the Labour Party fail to exploit?
Exploit oppurtunities such as the Suez Crisis 1956
If there was a general election in 1957 would have been in Labours Favour
Suez did not split Conservatives
What was a big identiy crisis for Labour?
Concerns over ideology of Labour
- Stance on Nuclear Weapons.
- Europe
- Clause 4
Nuclear weapons? Who challenged Labour leadership?
Trade Unions with leadership of Frank Cousins.
Where was the direction of the party fought?
1959 Blackpool and Scarbourough party counferences
What did Gaitskell promise to do?
Fight and gight again to save the party we love
What idea did Gaitskell put forward? Why did he not follow trhough?
Gaitskell puts forwarrd idea of abolishing Clase 4 which commits them to nationlalisation.
Forced back down after fear of left wing and TU backlash and further potential splits
Two key issues in Labour
- Growing opposition to the party leadership from TUs
- Simmering diveisios over Britains’s nuclear weapons (Many Labour left joining CND campaigns for unilaterial Disanment)
What is the CND best known for?
Anti nuclear weapons group
Aldermaston March 1959 which attracted 8000 supporters.
1959 election results
C=365 Seats (49.4% of votes)
L=258 Seats (43.8% of votes)
