Why Did Support For The Conservative Party Decline Flashcards
What are 4 key reasons for the Conservatives losing support in the 1951-1964 era?
A declining economy, the government failed to secure EEC membership, leadership of the party appeared to not be so strong after ‘Night of the Long Knives’ and Macmillan’s subsequent retirement
What was the Conservatives campaign slogan in the 1959 election?
‘Don’t let Labour ruin it’
from what year onwards was it clear the economy was in decline under the Conservatives?
1961
What council did the Conservatives set up as an economic planning body made up of government, trade unions and industrial managers?
National Economic Development Council (NEDC)
What commission, which had no noticeable impact, was set up to control incomes under the Conservatives?
National Incomes Commission (NIC)
What was a real sign of a poor economy under Macmillan?
Balance of trade deficit
How high had unemployment got by the end of 1963?
800,000 unemployed
What is an example of worker discontent and a failing economy under the late Conservative governments of the 1950s and early 1960s?
A significant increase in the number of days lost to strike, particularly in the docks
Who was Britain lagging behind of in terms of growth under the Conservatives in the 1950s/1960s?
Other European Countries, especially countries in the EEC
Which two events had damaged Anglo-American relations and questioned Britain’s status as a world power and convinced many of joining the EEC?
The loss of the empire and the Suez Crisis
Who vetoed Britain’s applications to join the EEC?
Charles De Gaulle, the French President
What was Macmillan’s cabinet reshuffle in 1962 linked to?
‘Night of the Long Knives’
How much of the cabinet was replaced in Macmillan’s cabinet reshuffle in 1962?
1/3 of the cabinet
What was there reason for such a major reshuffle of the cabinet in 1962?
The conservatives losing seats in by-elections in safe seats in Orpington and West Middlesbrough
Who won and by by what majority of votes of the constituencies of Orpington and West Middlesbrough in 1962?
Orpington: Liberal’s - 7000 majority (overturned a conservative majority if 14,000)
West Middlesbrough: Labour - 3000 majority
What was the impact of Macmillan’s cabinet reshuffle in 1962?
Short improvement to Macmillan with the nickname ‘Mac the Knife’ but then permeant damage for him and the Conservative party, with disunity in the Conservative party
What were the main scandals the occurred in the Conservative governments of the 1960s?
Profumo Affair, Vassall Affair, the Philby Case and the Argyll divorce case
What did the inquiry into the Vassall Affair suggest?
There was no evidence of cover-ups because the government was not in control of its departments
What was the Vassall Affair?
British civil servant, John Vassall, had spied for the Soviet Union between 1954 to 1962 under blackmail helping the Soviets modernise their navy
What did the government take the reasonability for in the Philby case?
For not identifying the traitor in the Foreign Office for a long time
What was the Argyll divorce case?
2 government minister had been involved sexually with Duchess who had cheated on the Duke with 88 people
What was the Profumo Affair?
John Profumo, the Secretary State For War, had an affair with Christine Keeler who was linked to a member of the Russian Embassy, raising doubts over national security and Macmillan’s control of the party and his government
What was a social problem that affected support for the Conservative party in the late 1950 to early 1960s
Class barriers and the income of the working class sometimes rising over the lower-middle classes
What was clear evidence of social tensions in 1958?
Race riots
Who was blamed for the housing shortage in the 1950s?
Immigrants
Which cities had race riots in 1958-1959?
London, Bristol and Nottingham
Where was a particularly troubling attack on black owned or rented properties?
Notting Hill
What did the government set up that conclude that increased immigration and not racism or discrimination was the reason for the race riots in 1958-1959?
Salmon Inquiry
What act led to the increased rush of immigrants due to the tightening restrictions?
The 1962 Commonwealth Immigration Act
What is two groups that often clashed as youth sub-culture developed during the 1950s, often escalating in to violence?
‘Mods and Rockers’
What did much of the youth sub-culture of anti-social behaviour in the 1960s do the the Conservative Party ?
Undermined the Conservatives belief of tradition and hierarchy
