Why Cons Were In Power Till 1951-64: Leadership Flashcards
some argue that it was due to the key personalities in the Conservative Party during this period, such as Macmillan and Butler, who presented a charismatic and confident image to the public which secured votes.
Reason 1 why cons won the election 1951-64
Some disagree and state that it was based on shifts in ideology and was in fact due to Conservative adherence to the post-war consensus (mixed economy, welfare, full employment) that resonated positively with the general public allowing them to remain dominant for 13 years.
R2 cons 1951-64: lab weaknesses
Alternatively, others argue that it was Labour disunity that led to Conservative dominance as they did not present themselves as a viable alternative.
The main reason, however, was the
economy as the ‘feel-good’ factor from the generally thriving economy was the ‘driving force’ behind voters’ choices and therefore political party success. The economy greatly influenced the public vote as people were more interested in their own wealth and prosperity rather than the good of society to an extent,it was the age of affluence under Conservative dominance so there was no reason to vote otherwise
Peter Hennessy argues that the main reason for Conservative dominance was
the economy, not Labour disunity; Hennessy’s interpretation focuses on the significant improvement to living standards and subsequent social mobility
Men’s wages went up from …
£8.30 in 1951 to £15.35 in 1961, this change in the economy is a positive one for the public as living standards, , in consequence, rose as well – this can be seen through the increase in private saving and home ownership with 300,000 new houses available a year
Further evidence of economic growth was the…
increase in car ownership during 1950-65 from 1.5 million to 5.5 million; consumerism is one of many indicators of a thriving economy.
Some historians such as … may argure
Correlli Barnett- that the economy was not thriving as the British GDP growth rate remained at 2.3, which was low in comparison to West Germany’s growth of 5.1 and Italy’s of 5.6. These statistics however were less important to the general public as they did not affect the public directly.
With the economy growing….
the high living standards maintained, the public were not inclined to vote against Conservative leadership as the public are more receptive to economic success rather than political advantage.Therefore the continuous perceived economic growth and improvement to standard of living between 1951 and 1964 underpins the publics’ perception of the Conservatives and this is the most important reason for their dominance during this period.
2 reason for Conservative dominance
that Labour disunity- public were not presented with an alternative political party that was viable for leading the government. Therefore, civilians continued to vote Conservative
how did the entry into korean war june 1950 contribute to labours downfall
The financial strain of rearming subsequently led Gaitskell, who at this point was Chancellor of the Exchequer, threatening the idea of introducing prescription charges to the NHS. Understandably, the far left member of the party, Bevan, was enraged at this suggestion. His subsequent retirement from the party therefore revealed that Labour was divided in its views and ultimately undermined its unity, providing a poor image to potential voters.
Another significant reason for Conservative dominance is the
adherence to the post-war consensus by the Conservative Party. As the consensus included Britain having a mixed economy, full employment, welfare benefits and more, this suggested an improvement for the citizens’ lives which boosted Conservative Party popularity
proof The Conservatives committed to the consensus
evidently seen through the decision not to privatise industries – this displays the party’s movement away from right-wing policies (privatised companies and industries). The government also maintained a good relationship with the Trade Unions which contrasted Labour Party’s disunity and internal dispute with the Trade Unions.
16.The Conservative image of a stable political party possibly contributed to their dominance. However…
some historians would argue that this is not a valid argument as although the public were partial to the consensus and supported the party adhering to it, the reason they did so was to sustain high living standards.
17.With the Conservatives continuing Labour
welfare reforms through the consensus (NHS, benefits system and council housing) they ultimately raised the average living standards in the country; growth in the economy allowed for a boost in investments into the welfare system thus living standards in Britain rose.
The relationship with the Trade Union resulted in….
good working conditions and wages. Therefore this factor supports the view that the economy was significantly more important and underpins voters’ decisions during this period.
