Post-war Consensus

Question 1

How did Butler describe the Labour government’s reforms?

Answer 1

‘the greatest social revolution in our history’

Question 2

Porter’s views of the transition from Atlee’s government to Churchill’s?

Answer 2

‘Atlee’s patriotic socialists gave way to Churchill’s social patriots’

Question 3

What was in the post war consensus?

Answer 3

• Welfare state
• Notion of state-directed planning (clause IV)
• Keynesianism (mixed economy)

Question 4

Why did the Conservatives keep the post war consensus?

Answer 4

• National unity and operation.
• Lawson called ‘big government’ –> Idea of intervention
• Trade unions powerful. Conservatives wanted a cooperative relationship with trade union ‘barons’
• Popularity of welfare reforms
• Only won a slender majority