The 1951 General Election

Question 1

Background to the 1951
General Election

Answer 1

• Labour’s defeat was caused by Atlee’s government being warned out by economic and financial difficulties
• The manifesto originally set out had been widely achieved leaving the party directionless
• Labour Party’s MPs reduced to just 5 making governing difficult & damaged the party’s morale
• A number of ministers e.g. Herbert, Morrison, Bevin and Atlee himself had been working continuously since 1940

Question 2

The Winter Crisis
1946-1947

Answer 2

• Particularly harsh winter where fuel crisis damaged industrial production
• Unemployment rose
• Trade was badly effected which lead to a growing concern of inflation
• caused balance of payments mainly with the US, reduced exports-> growing imports
• American imports weren’t cheap causing a balance of payment crisis

Question 3

Continuation of Rationing

Answer 3

• Rationing continued long after the war was over, e.g. basic food, clothing
• Use of post-war rationing was to help limit the cost of expensive imports from abroad
• Caused resentment among voters
• Conservatives pledged to end it
• Public wanted to end rationing and austerity

Question 4

Labour’s Economic Problems

Answer 4

• Government suffered huge economic loss whilst attempting to rebuild post-war society, repaying loans to the USA and financing the Cold War with nuclear weapons (A Bomb and H Bomb)
• 1949-1950 Atlee was forced to impose wage freezes, annoying trade unions
• Introduced wealth tax annoying the middle classes

Question 5

Devaluation of the Pound (£)
1949

Answer 5

• Government were forced to devalue the pound, increasing the cost of imports and making British exports cheaper helping Britain’s balance of payments deficit
• Angered voters as the price of consumer goods increased in shops

Question 6

Soviet Spy Scandal
(Burgess & Maclean)

Answer 6

• Government was further embarrassed by the defection of diplomats Burgess and Maclean to the Soviet Union in 1951
• Labour appeared to the public as weak when it came to the safeguarding of the country’s national security

Question 7

Korean War/Labour Splits
(1950-1953)

Answer 7

• Britain’s entry to the war angered LP’s Bevanites (left-wing)
• Believed that Labour gov was sheepishly following the US into a Cold War engagement
• Possible WW3 and nuclear exchange
• People began voting for Churchill due to his prior wartime efforts and experience
• Voting out of fear of a nuclear war

Question 8

The Bevanite Rebellion
(1951)

Answer 8

• Serious divisions had developed within the Labour Party between left/right wings
• Split over economic, welfare and foreign policies
• 1951: due to financial difficulties, Atlee introduced NHS charges on dental treatment, spectacles and prescriptions
• Bevan was the Labour minister who constructed the NHS
• Led other Labour ministers to resign from cabinet
• Protested that all treatments should be free
• Those who followed Bevan became known as ‘Bevanites’

Question 9

Conservative Party
Modernisation

Answer 9

• Modern ideas began to be introduced by younger MPs, e.g. Rab Butler
• He convinced the party to embrace the Post-War Consensus
• Successfully modernised Conservative ideas
• Re-emphasising the party’s ‘One-Nation Conservatism’ roots making it ready for a return to government
• 1947: published ‘The Industrial Charter’ portraying Conservatives commitment to a welfare state and the reforms introduced by Labour
• Demonstrated Conservatives acceptance of the Post-War Consensus