Why Did Support For The Conservative Party Decline

Question 1

What are 4 key reasons for the Conservatives losing support in the 1951-1964 era?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What was the Conservatives campaign slogan in the 1959 election?

Answer 2

‘Don’t let Labour ruin it’

Question 3

from what year onwards was it clear the economy was in decline under the Conservatives?

Answer 3

1961

Question 4

What council did the Conservatives set up as an economic planning body made up of government, trade unions and industrial managers?

Answer 4

National Economic Development Council (NEDC)

Question 5

What commission, which had no noticeable impact, was set up to control incomes under the Conservatives?

Answer 5

National Incomes Commission (NIC)

Question 6

What was a real sign of a poor economy under Macmillan?

Answer 6

Balance of trade deficit

Question 7

How high had unemployment got by the end of 1963?

Answer 7

800,000 unemployed

Question 8

What is an example of worker discontent and a failing economy under the late Conservative governments of the 1950s and early 1960s?

Answer 8

A significant increase in the number of days lost to strike, particularly in the docks

Question 9

Who was Britain lagging behind of in terms of growth under the Conservatives in the 1950s/1960s?

Answer 9

Other European Countries, especially countries in the EEC

Question 10

Which two events had damaged Anglo-American relations and questioned Britain’s status as a world power and convinced many of joining the EEC?

Answer 10

The loss of the empire and the Suez Crisis

Question 11

Who vetoed Britain’s applications to join the EEC?

Answer 11

Charles De Gaulle, the French President

Question 12

What was Macmillan’s cabinet reshuffle in 1962 linked to?

Answer 12

‘Night of the Long Knives’

Question 13

How much of the cabinet was replaced in Macmillan’s cabinet reshuffle in 1962?

Answer 13

1/3 of the cabinet

Question 14

What was there reason for such a major reshuffle of the cabinet in 1962?

Answer 14

The conservatives losing seats in by-elections in safe seats in Orpington and West Middlesbrough

Question 15

Who won and by by what majority of votes of the constituencies of Orpington and West Middlesbrough in 1962?

Answer 15

Orpington: Liberal’s - 7000 majority (overturned a conservative majority if 14,000)
West Middlesbrough: Labour - 3000 majority

Question 16

What was the impact of Macmillan’s cabinet reshuffle in 1962?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What were the main scandals the occurred in the Conservative governments of the 1960s?

Answer 17

Profumo Affair, Vassall Affair, the Philby Case and the Argyll divorce case

Question 18

What did the inquiry into the Vassall Affair suggest?

Answer 18

There was no evidence of cover-ups because the government was not in control of its departments

Question 19

What was the Vassall Affair?

Answer 19

British civil servant, John Vassall, had spied for the Soviet Union between 1954 to 1962 under blackmail helping the Soviets modernise their navy

Question 20

What did the government take the reasonability for in the Philby case?

Answer 20

For not identifying the traitor in the Foreign Office for a long time

Question 21

What was the Argyll divorce case?

Answer 21

2 government minister had been involved sexually with Duchess who had cheated on the Duke with 88 people

Question 22

What was the Profumo Affair?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What was a social problem that affected support for the Conservative party in the late 1950 to early 1960s

Answer 23

Class barriers and the income of the working class sometimes rising over the lower-middle classes

Question 24

What was clear evidence of social tensions in 1958?

Answer 24

Race riots

Question 25

Who was blamed for the housing shortage in the 1950s?

Answer 25

Immigrants

Question 26

Which cities had race riots in 1958-1959?

Answer 26

London, Bristol and Nottingham

Question 27

Where was a particularly troubling attack on black owned or rented properties?

Answer 27

Notting Hill

Question 28

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?

Answer 28

Salmon Inquiry

Question 29

What act led to the increased rush of immigrants due to the tightening restrictions?

Answer 29

The 1962 Commonwealth Immigration Act

Question 30

What is two groups that often clashed as youth sub-culture developed during the 1950s, often escalating in to violence?

Answer 30

‘Mods and Rockers’

Question 31

What did much of the youth sub-culture of anti-social behaviour in the 1960s do the the Conservative Party ?

Answer 31

Undermined the Conservatives belief of tradition and hierarchy