reasons for conservatives' fall from power

Question 1

in 1961-63 numerous events came together to weaken Macmillian’s grip on government leading to his resignation as prime minister on

Answer 1

October 1963

Question 2

by the early 1960s growing concerns over the economy, what did Britain make an application for?

Answer 2

made an application to join the EEC in 1961- the application rejected in 1963

Question 3

MacMillan himself lost his political touch

Answer 3

radically reshuffled his cabinet in 1962, sacking 1/3 of it

Question 4

when Macmillian sacked 1/3 of his cabinet this was known as?

Answer 4

the night of the long knives

Question 5

problems under Macmillian

Answer 5

-Macmillian made to seem clumsy, appeared increasingly out of touch
-image as an Edwardian gentlemen and his marriage into aristocracy=out of date
-economic situation also continued to cause concern

Question 6

series of spy scandals(early 1960s)

Answer 6

-George Blake-convicted of being Societ double agent in 1961
-1962- John Vassall, civil servant, discovered to have been blackmailed on the basis of his homosexuality,to pass information onto the soviet union.

Question 7

most infamous scandal that combined sex, spying, and high politics was called?

Answer 7

the Profumo affair in 1963
-> The politician at the centre was Macmillian’s secretary of state for war, John Profumo

Question 8

in his statements to parliament and his personal assurances to the prime minister, what did Profumo do?

Answer 8

lied about his actions

Question 9

political impact of the Profumo affair?

Answer 9

actually short-lived but image of Macmillian and conservative government as old + out of touch reinforced

Question 10

Macmillian’s position

Answer 10

undermined by a serious illness - major abdominal operation, resigned in october- hospital for weeks in autumn of 1963

Question 11

Macmillian not prepare way for anyone to succeed him. This caused?

Answer 11

conservative government to face a divisive power struggle

Question 12

strong opposition between who and who emerged as a leader?

Answer 12

strong opposition between two obvious candidates-Rab Butler and Lord Hailsham
in the end - Lord Home emerged as leader

Question 13

Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Lord Home) (1903-95)

Answer 13

-served as foreign secretary under both Macmillian and under Edward Heath (1970-74)
-chosen to be conservative party leader 1963- gave up peerage so that he could sit in house of Commons than house of Lords
-also introduced elections for conservative leadership-formal system hadn’t existed before 1965