Lesson 3 Flashcards
The post war consensus and butskellism
- The industrial charter published in 1947 by Rab Butler showed the tories had accepted the post war consensus
- Accepted Britain should operate under a mixed economy
- Tories continued Labours main aims of :
full employment while still striving for economic growth,
expanding the welfare state and a commitment to Britains defence programme due to the Korea war
- Britain was heavily in debt as a result of wartime spending and current defence spending.
Butlers ideas were very similar to labours, making a decision between who to vote for very difficult as both seemed to stand for the same things.
The conservative acceptance of the welfare state
Having a generous welfare state was apart of the post war consensus.
Rab Butlers modernisation of introducing Butskellism and one-nation conservatism helped this be accepted.
Rab Butler suggested that strong trade unions needed to be help highly in regard and work together with big business for a mixed economy.
Party modernisation - Rab Butler
Ran Butler published the industrial charter in 1947 outlining the need for social equality, briefly mirroring the beveridge report of 1942
Butler helped the part accept the post war consensus and the need to move with the times.
He also achieved this with one nation conservatism, the believe the government should hold a paternal role over the more socially disadvantaged and focus on providing them with support.
Reorganisation - Lord Woolton
Lord Woolton reorganised the parties finances and constituency’s realising the Tories needed more grass root support
The post war boom and end of austerity
The post war boom was beginning to show through just as the conservative government was coming to power.
The end of rationing in 1954 marker the end of austerity
The global economy was also booming after countries were rebuilding after three Second World War
The country was committed to full employment
People could leave school with minimum qualifications and gain a well paid job for life.
The first past the post electoral system
Conservatives won with 48%
However Labour had 48.8%
Due to the first past the post election Labour lost
The Tories had 321 seats and Labour had 295
Internal divisions within the Labour Party
The bevanite rebellion over persecution charges 1951
- Due to financial difficulties, govt forced to make public expenditure cuts
- Several ministers resigned from cabinet starting that this went against the fundamentals of the NHS
Left wing Labour disagreements about Britain’s involvement in the Korean War.
- Thought Britain was sheepishly following America into a third world war and nuclear disaster
Also disagreements over nuclear weapons
1. Bevanites unilateral disarmament
2. Gaitskellites - multilateral disarmament
Supermac overshadowing the Suez Crisis
After Eden resigned in 1957 Harold MacMillion took over as prime minister.
When MacMillan became prime minister the country was in depths of turmoil and the Tories demoralised
Macmillions charismatic and powerful TV skills helped the country quickly forget the suez crisis
MacMillion had an elegant style and a good grasp of party politics, making him a perfect candidate for the party to bring them back to the top.
New housing building pledge
The Tories pledged to build 300,000 new homes a year this expecting was met and exceeded
Harold MacMillion minister of housing
Reducing high standards met by bevan and allowing slightly smaller council houses to be built.
The age of affluence
Economic conditions were improving steadily in the 1950s and personal prosperity seemed greater.
July 1957 - you’ve never had it so good
The conservatives also claimed to be the party of economic competence
While branding Labour as the party of rationing and austerity
Increased car ownership
Better household goods and leisure activities
Keysnesian economic were still used and full employment and a generous welfare state were still committed too.
Average male workers wage increased from £8.30 in 1951 to £18.35 in 1964
