Why did the Conservative government win the election in 1951?

Question 1

What percentage of votes did each party win?

Answer 1

Conservative: 48.0%
Labour: 48.8%
Liberal: 2.5%

Question 2

How many seats did each party win?

Answer 2

Conservatives: 321
Labour: 295
Liberal: 6

Question 3

What were the struggles of the Conservative government?

Answer 3

• Cold War
• Downfall of the British Empire
• European Coal and Steel Alliance (European Union)
• Social change / pop culture
  
  • No fault divorce legal
  • Eradicate the death penalty

Question 4

What were the weaknesses of the Labour government?

Answer 4

• Economic and financial problems of the war were not successfully tackled.
• People associated Labour government with policies of austerity, rationing and high taxation.
• Korean War 1950 led to financial strains.
• Party was divided over charges to dental treatment. (Nye Bevan walked out when prescription charges instigated)
• Some MPs voiced concerns on economic and foreign policy. Strain between right and left sides of the party.

Question 5

Conservative strengths?

Answer 5

• The Conservative party had been out of the public eye for many years. This provided them with the resources to reform their policies and form a strong government that could win a campaign.
• Conservative party used the weaknesses of the Labour parties.
• Churchill was popular.

Question 6

What weaknesses did Conservative government reverse?

Answer 6

• 300,000 houses per year built. This was better than the 200,000 houses built per year by Labour government.
• Give people ‘more red meat’ opposing rations.
• Promised to keep Welfare State.
• Reversal of steel and coal nationalisation

Question 7

What did Lord Woolton do for the Conservative government?

Answer 7

Reformed party finances and local organisation.

Question 8

Reginald Maudling

Answer 8

Provided fresh ideas and dynamics.

Question 9

Labour slogan in 1951 election?

Answer 9

‘Ask your Dad!’

Question 10

When did Nye Bevan leave the Labour party?

Answer 10

January 1951

Question 11

votes of Labour Party in 1951?

Answer 11

14 million

Question 12

When did Bevan announce his opposition to unilateral nuclear disarmament, changing his stance on the issue?

Answer 12

1957