Revision Topic Sheet 5: 1951-1964 Flashcards
Sheck Wes I ain't a joke
Who became the leader of the Labour Party in 1955 after PM Clement Attlee’s resignation?
Hugh Gaitskell
What did Gaitskell do which created a feud with Health Secretary Aneurin Bevan?
Imposed prescription charges to fund the NHS
What did the left of the Labour Party want?
More state control and direction of the economy
What were the name of the people supporting the Labour left and what did they want?
Bevanites: wanted the working class to have more control of the direction and policy of the Party and wanted Britain to give up its nuclear weapons (unilateralists)
What were their opponents called and what did they want?
Gaitskellites: wanted a more centrist position in society with no radical policies
What was the CND?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament founded in 1958
What was Gaitskell’s aim in government in 1959 and why was it dismissed?
Wanted to abolish Clause IV and end nationalisation on a large scale, backed down without putting it to a vote after getting opposition from left-wingers and trade unions
Why did Labour lose the 1959 election?
- Age of Affluence advertised as being caused by the Conservatives - they gained more votes
- Promised a rise in taxation as well as state pensions - backfired by making the public fear increased taxes
- Divisions in the Labour Party over several policies
What was the CDS?
Campaign for Democratic Socialism followed by Gaitskellites - wanted the party to distance itself from trade unions, nationalisation and unilateralism
What was the TGWU and who was its leader?
Transport and General Workers Union led by Frank Cousins
What happened at the 1960 Labour conference?
TGWU led an unsuccessful bus strike as well as a block vote in opposition to Gaitskell’s leadership
What did Gaitskell do to help unite the Labour Party?
Gave an emotional speech stating “we will fight, and fight, and fight to save the party we love”
Why did things improve for the Labour Party 1961-1964?
- Cultural shift made people more critical of the ‘Establishment’ under the Conservatives
- Growing economic and political problems for the Conservative Party
Why did Labour win the 1964 election?
- Harold Wilson represented himself as a man of the people
- Labour spoke of the ‘white heat of technology’ which contrasted with the long-running Conservative leadership
- Wilson was great at dealing with the media
What were the failures of the Conservatives that helped lead to the 1964 election loss?
Economic and political scandals, such as the Profumo Affair and Vassall Inquiry
