Labour in power Flashcards
Why was the 1945 election so special?
It was the first general election since 1935 with several million people were voting for the first time
When did voting begin and end for the 1945 election?
Voting began on 5th July and ended on 19th July to permit soldiers serving overseas to vote.
Who won the 1945 election?
Labour had won a landslide victory
How did the war cause people to favour labour?
There was a powerful feeling in Britain in favour of reform encouraged by the sacrifices of the Second World War and the Beveridge Report.
The coalition government had followed ‘war socialism ’ so Labour’s policies were less feared.
People had seen how much better off American GIs seemed to be than British servicemen and civilians. British people were questioning if the class-ridden structure of Britain was to blame.
What was attractive about labour’s policies?
The Labour manifesto stressed planning, reconstruction and equality
It showed that it would implement the Beveridge Report more quickly than the Conservatives.
Labour promised to build more houses than the Conservatives and promised change.
Why did people like the labour leader?
The Labour leader, Clement Attlee came across as assured and calm. He had also played a crucial role in the wartime government.
Why didn’t people like the conservative policies?
The Conservative manifesto emphasised the need for continuity under Churchill rather than change and people were ready for a change.
It seemed as if many of their policies were just hopes and not definite and whilst the Conservative Party said that they accepted all of the proposals of the Beveridge Report they said that putting them into practice straightaway would be very difficult.
Why did people dislike the conservative leadership?
Churchill’s wartime popularity didn’t cross over into peacetime.
The party relied too much on Churchill and had few other major figures.
Many people remembered Churchill’s lack of sympathy during the General Strike of 1926
Churchill’s comment that a Labour government might have to fall back on “some sort of Gestapo” did not go down well.
Who was William Beveridge?
He was a civil servant who had worked on the Liberal National Insurance Act of 1911. The Government asked him to suggest ways in which it could help the sick, the unemployed, low-paid workers and retired people they expected him to look at just National Insurance but he surprised the Government by undertaking a much wider investigation into poverty, health and welfare in general.
What did Beveridge identify in his report in 1942?
He identified five giant problems that had to be overcome to make progress and create a better society.
What were The Five Giants identified by Beveridge?
Ignorance – the lack of a proper education for everyone which could be solved by building new and better schools
Disease – unnecessary disease could be solved by a new health service for the whole nation
Idleness – high levels of unemployment could be helped by the Government helping industry to create more jobs
Squalor – the large numbers of people living in conditions of poverty would be assisted by a massive programme of house-building
Want – the lack of basic needs, especially food would be aided by a new system of national insurance run by the Government.
What 5 things did the Beveridge report recommend?
There would be no means test.
The National Insurance scheme would be run by the government.
Everyone would be entitled to a flat rate benefit.
The flat rate benefit paid out to sick and unemployed workers would be sufficient so there would be no need for public assistance.
Extra benefits provided for children and health care to relive poverty.
How did the government use Family Allowances to implement a welfare state?
Introduced in 1945, every family received five shillings a week for each child after the first until age of 16 or was employed full time . There was no means test.
How did the government use the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act to implement a welfare state?
It gave benefits to workers who were injured or disabled at work and set up courts to decide the amount of compensation to be paid.
How did the government use the National Assistance Act to implement a welfare state?
They set up a board whose purpose was to prevent extreme poverty and provide everyone with a minimum income.
How did the government use Pensions to implement a welfare state?
State pensions were paid to all men when they reached 65 (men) or 60 (women). A death grant gave widows help with funeral expenses.
How did the government use National Insurance to implement a welfare state?
All local authorities had to provide accommodation for the aged and handicapped and ensure that there was at least temporary accommodation for the homeless.
How did the Government deal with the other ‘giants’?
The Government continued the slum clearances and began a huge house-building programme
The 1946 Housing Production Executive saw the construction of one million houses
The nationalisation of industries helped to preserve jobs and prevent unemployment.
The 1946 New Towns Act created 17 new towns in England, 5 in Scotland and 1 in Wales.
The 1944 Education Act created the tripartite education system and raised the school-leaving age to 15 .
Who was Aneurin Bevan?
The Minister for Health, who was responsible for improving the nation’s health. In 1946 he introduced the National Health Service Act
Why was the NHS necessary?
WWII had created a need to treat large numbers of civilian casualties, giving many people access to health care which they had never had before.
The war had brought the situation of the poor to the public’s notice.
Who opposed the NHS?
Doctors (only one in every 100 specialist doctors and surgeons in London was in favour of the scheme) and Conservatives
Why did doctors oppose the NHS?
They argued that they would lose their independence, spend valuable time filling in forms and have their earnings controlled by the Government.
Why did Conservatives oppose the NHS?
They criticised the cost of the NHS
How did the hospital system change as a result of the NHS?
Hospitals were nationalised and organised into regional groups or health authorities and the overall administration of the system was the responsibility of the Minister for Health.
