Labour Election Win 1945 Flashcards
What is the first factor?
- Conservative’s role in WWII.
How did the Conservatives gain a bad reputation?
- The Conservatives gained a bad reputation due to Chamberlain as he loved appeasement instead of facing war.
- Britain is divided due to this, many criticised his actions, they saw it as giving Hitler the advantage, meanwhile some supported these actions.
What did this bad reputation lead to?
- With Chamberlain not doing enough to promote Britain, and the added negative connotations of past Conservative leaders, voters were more influenced to vote about instead.
What did Churchill gain a reputation of?
- Churchill gained reputation for being a ‘warmonger’ for his consolidated role and belief during wartime, despite his first roles being primarily domestic.
What does Antony Beever contribute to this argument?
- “War does not bring its own form of socialism, but Churchill was useless as a social reformer.”
What does Antony Beever’s argument show?
- Public only saw Churchill as a war-time leader instead of a reconstructionist, which put voters off because people were tired of war and wanted the British Empire to become reformed, which the Labour Party could provide.
What did Labour focus on for post-war Britain?
- Labour focused on the 1942 Beveridge Report, which suggested that as everyone pays the government tax, they would receive more benefits such a free healthcare and better education.
What was the Conservative’s reaction towards the Beveridge Report?
- Conservatives dismissed Beveridge Report as they had little interest as it failed to engage in national discussion on the topic,
- shown by Churchill during his Gestapo speech where he said those advocating for socialism were ‘short sighted’.
What happened as a result of Churchill’s dismissiveness of the Beveridge Report?
- Due to Churchill’s harsh language and his dismissiveness of the socialist movement, he made the Conservative Party look less attractive to voters, but also offended voters.
What did Paul Addison describe Churchill’s behaviour as?
- He described the Beveridge Report to be Churchill’s ‘golden opportunity to reinvent himself as a leader’.
- However then says “Churchill, however, completely missed the opportunity.”
What is the overall evaluation for the first factor?
- Overall, Churchill choosing to dismiss this ‘golden opportunity ’ left a gap in the British public’s opinion showing that Churchill and the Conservatives were out of touch with the British public’s needs.
- Labour worked hard to get a good image for the public, as Attlee took this opportunity to write himself back into the narrative, proving themselves capable.
What happened during the 1930s and how was this good for Labour? (second factor)
- As Labour had the benefit from the 1930s (the ‘Locust Years’) when the Conservatives were in Government it meant that Labour’s reputation was kept clean during these times of hardship.
How did the Locust Years allow Labour to do?
- This meant that from 1934-37, Herbert Morrison and Ernest Bevin could collaborate to create plans for the economy, with some nationalists in the Labour Party having established plans for welfare coverage.
Who was Labour’s hard work shown by? (K)
- Labour’s hard work and advantage of the 1930s has been shown through Richard Ovary who said that
- contrary to the Conservatives, Labour had “offered the prospect of progress.”
What does Labour’s hard work emphasises? (A)
- Emphasises how Labour had been making great plans on how to improve Britain for the future, aiding their plans in 1945 as these plans were shared with the public as promises from Clement Attlee.
