Political Developments: Labour Government by 1951

Question 1

What happened in Iran in 1950?

Answer 1

They nationalized an oil plant in Abadan previously owned by Britain

Question 2

What did the Conservatives tell Labour to do? What did Labour do?

Answer 2

Conservatives told Labour to send troops to reclaim it. They did not.

Question 3

When and how did the Iran crisis end?

Answer 3

1954. Conservatives made a deal to get 40% of the shares

Question 4

What event did Labour create to try and get more support for the next election?

Answer 4

Festival of Britain

Question 5

How much did the Festival of Britain cost?

Answer 5

Over £10 million

Question 6

What was something shown at the festival of Britain?

Answer 6

Skylon, which could float without support

Question 7

What did the Festival of Britain indicate for Labour?

Answer 7

They were not clear with their next steps towards modernisation

Question 8

What did the Conservatives promise in terms of meat for the public?

Answer 8

‘More red meat’ instead of Snoek

Question 9

Which parts of the country did Labour lose 20 seats?

Answer 9

South East Middle Class Voters

Question 10

What was the reality of Nationalisation for the workers?

Answer 10

They did not get a say in industries as they continued to only be run by experts

Question 11

Did nationalized industries improve efficiency once nationalized?

Answer 11

They kept the previous inefficient management structures

Question 12

2 reasons Labour lost middle class voters by 1951?

Answer 12

High Inflation
Continuation of Rationing

Question 13

What promises from 1945 did Labour fulfil?

Answer 13

They built a welfare state and provided free Healthcare to Britain

Question 14

What is an example of a Labour Act helping the Welfare state to expand?

Answer 14

1948 National Assistance Act

Question 15

What war started in 1950?

Answer 15

Korean War

Question 16

What was the impact of the Korean war on the NHS?

Answer 16

Had to introduce 1 shilling charges for glasses

Question 17

Which Labour MP’s walked out of the government after introducing NHS charges?

Answer 17

Bevan and Harold Wilson

Question 18

What percentage of businesses stayed private under Labour? Why?

Answer 18

80% stayed private as they preferred their old and established methods

Question 19

What did Conservatives promise to do with Nationalized Industries?

Answer 19

Denationalize some of them

Question 20

What was Labour’s manufacturing modernisation problem?

Answer 20

Using more machines means higher unemployment and angered trade unions

Question 21

How was Labour described by the 1951 election?

Answer 21

“An animal biting at its own wounds”

Question 22

How many houses built by 1947 and how many by 1951?

Answer 22

300,000 houses by 1947, over 1 million by 1951

Question 23

How did Labour appear in their 1951 campaign?

Answer 23

They did not offer anything new

Question 24

What seat majority did the Conservatives get in 1951?

Answer 24

17 seats