Why did Labour win a landslide victory in the 1945 election?

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

First election since 1935
Many shocked by the result, including Clement Attlee
Labour increased its vote share by 10% (3.5 million), won 393 seats in parliament
Conservatives won 213 seats, Liberals won 12

Question 2

Impact of the Second World War- Power of the State

Answer 2

‘Total war’ led to ‘total solutions’
Emergency Powers Act (1939) expanded state power- rationing, evacuations of cities, full control of the workforce, and centralised economic management
Showed true extent of state power, public expectation of larger role
Labour party argued the state had ‘won the war’ so should ‘win the peace’

Question 3

Impact of the Second World War- Public Attitudes

Answer 3

Changing zeitgeist, growth in support for collectivist and universalist solutions for tackling social inequalities.
Evacuation of 3 mill inner city children, rural m+u/c saw poverty first hand
Families from all classes shared hardships, rationing, war work, bombing

Question 4

Impact of the Second World War- Physical Impact

Answer 4

2 out of 7 houses destroyed, 41% of public saw housing as the biggest challenge
Reform of health service necessary, 41% unfit for combat

Question 5

Conservative Weakness- Past Failures

Answer 5

Failure to build ‘a home fit for heroes’ post WW1
Failure to resolve the depression in 1930s- ‘hungry thirties’
Failure to prevent rise of Hitler-‘guilty men’

Question 6

Conservative Weakness- Election Campaign

Answer 6

Overly reliant on the reputation of Churchill
Didn’t campaign effectively- no focus on new policies
Conservatives seemed to be looking backwards while Labour looked forwards

Question 7

Conservative Weakness- Election Campaign

Answer 7

Overly reliant on the reputation of Churchill
Didn’t campaign effectively- no focus on new policies
Conservatives seemed to be looking backwards while Labour looked forwards

Question 8

Conservative Weakness- Election Campaign

Answer 8

Overly reliant on the reputation of Churchill
Didn’t campaign effectively- no focus on new policies
Conservatives seemed to be looking backwards while Labour looked forwards

Question 9

Conservative Weakness- Election Campaign

Answer 9

Overly reliant on the reputation of Churchill
Didn’t campaign effectively- no focus on new policies
Conservatives seemed to be looking backwards while Labour looked forwards

Question 10

Conservative Weakness- Churchill’s Mistakes

Answer 10

Labour revealed manifesto- ‘Let Us Face the Future’, Churchill called then dangerous revolutionaries, said they would need Gestapo-like secret police
Churchill opposed Beveridge Report + voted against creating of NHS

Question 11

Labour Party Strengths- Ideology

Answer 11

Attlee and Labour Party broke from National Government to run in 1945 election
In tune with public demands- embraced the Beveridge Report

Question 12

Labour Party Strengths- Public Attitudes

Answer 12

Fundamental change to public attitudes, made collectivist ideology more appealing
Wanted increased gov. role in managing economy + social life
Promise for state funded NHS reflects this

Question 13

Labour Party Strengths- Experience of Government

Answer 13

Clement Attlee- deputy Prime Minister
Ernest Bevin- Minister for Labour
Herbert Morrison- Home Secretary
Proved they were credible + competent party of government, ministerial record removed doubts about ability