Labour landslide of 1945 Flashcards
Churchill didn’t want a general election
Attlee triggered the general election
Churchill wanted to remain as a coalition until the defeat of Japan
Labour seat share and popular vote
393, 48%
Conservative seat share and popular vote
210, 39.6%
Media believed that Churchill would win
Leader of the Daily Express said that “Churchill and his supporters would be returning to power”
Socialist ideas in 1945
Had become more popular with state control during wartime being common
What left wing policies had bene implemented during the war
State intervention, high spending, high taxation and control of railways and gas
Churchill’s comments on labour in the lead up to the election
Referred to them as the ‘Gestapo’
Labour’s involvement in the wartime government
Made them appear competent and experienced
Why was there a push for greater state intervention
Middle classes became convinced of greater state intervention after they saw the terrible conditions of evacuees Working class felt that it was their right to have better working conditions
Why were the conservatives not popular
Held responsible for the depression and the outbreak of war
MacMillan quote on the 1945 election
“It was not Churchill who lost the 1945 election, it was the ghost of Neville Chamberlain”
How was Labour portrayed as more moderate
Ideas of mixed economy, involving Keynes and Beveridge
Attlee was a strong leader
Able to control the likes of Bevan and Bevin
Key Labour policies
Implementation of the NHS
Nationalisation of key industries
Beveridge Report
New Towns Act 1946
Gave government power to decide where new towns would be built
