Politics (1951-64)

Question 1

9

Describe the premiership of Winston Churchill (3)

Answer 1

• Industrial Charter (1947) - accepted post-war consensus - Shifted party appeal to young
• Aimed to create govt of broad appeal (sim to war cabinet coalition) - offered cabinet to the Liberal leader, but he refused
• Pledge to build 300k houses a year reached in 1953

Question 2

7

Describe the Industrial Charter (1947)

Answer 2

Statement of Conservative Industrial Policy
* Accepted post-war consensus
* welfare state e.g. NHS
* mixed economy - Keynesian economics + Beveridge philosophy

Question 3

5

What were the pledges in This is the Road (1951)?

Answer 3

Conservative 1951 manifesto:
* denationalise iron and steel
* end rationing - paid for my dividend from end of Korean War
* end of 1940s Lab austerity

Question 4

6

Describe the 1955 election

Answer 4

• RAB’s 1955 budget: inc income tax cut, expansion of social services (esp housing) and end of rationing
• Govt majority of 58, low turnout of 77.7%

Question 5

9

Describe the premiership of Harold Macmillan

Answer 5

• Published ‘Middle Way’ - advocated broadly centrist philosophy
• ‘Never had it so good’ (1957) speech
• 1959 electoral success
• End of tenure: scandals, Night of Long Knives

Question 6

3

Describe Labour weaknesses in the 1959 election

Answer 6

• Gaistkell populist move - raise spending but not income tax

Question 7

9

Describe Housing policy under the Conservatives (1951-64)

Answer 7

• 300k homes a year pledge - achieved in 1953
• by 1964, 1.7m new houses built
• home ownership inc to 44% by 1964 (25% pre-war)

Question 8

4

example of NHS policy under the Conservatives (1951-64)

Answer 8

• Introduced prescriptions charges in 1952

Question 9

6

Describe Labour party divisions (1951-64)

Answer 9

• Bevan resignation triggered factionalism
• Divisions over unilateralism

Question 10

3

Describe the Knight of the Long Knives 1962

Answer 10

• Macmillan sacked ⅓ of his cabinet in July 1962 in an aim to rebuild his image
• Brought in younger figures like Maulding (CX) and Keith Joseph (Housing)

Question 11

3

1957 Rent Act

Answer 11

denounced by Labour as ‘landlord’s charter’

Question 12

7

Describe how Wilson’s policies led to Conservative defeat in 1964

Answer 12

• Greater economic planning through creation of DEA
• WhiteHeat - Supported education and skills development to achieve scientific revolution - rather than merely subsidising scientists
• ‘Signpost for Sixties’

Question 13

6

Describe the results of the 1964 election

Answer 13

• Lab vote remained the same as 1959
• Con vote went down 1.8m - suggested that the conservatives lost the election rather than labour winning it

Question 14

Gaitskellites vs Bevanites

Answer 14

Gaitskellites: represented the right of Labour
Bevanites: the left-wing faction of the party led by Bevan

Question 15

Bevin vs Bevan

Answer 15

Bevan: assisted in the formation of the NHS
Bevin: Union rights

Question 16

name the scandals

Answer 16

vassal: (1962)
Philby: (1963) - member of the Cambridge 5
profumo: (1963)