Why Did The Labour Party Win The 1964 Election Flashcards
What was Labour’s opinion poll lead when Macmillan resigned as Prime Minister in October 1963?
12 points with Wilson enjoying a 60% approval rating
What was the 1964 general election result?
Conservative: 304 seats, 12,001,396 votes
Labour: 317 seats, 12,205,814 votes
Liberal: 9 seats, 3,092,978 votes
How was Wilson able to gloss over Labours internal divisions?
By presenting the party as a modern, dynamic and progressive party, with its manifesto promising a range of polices to promote economic growth, full employment, improved welfare and health services, better housing and a programme of comprehensive education
What did Labour in 1964 claim the Conservative domination prior was, a view held by many of the electorate?
It was ‘13 wasted years’
What is an example of the middle class abandoning the tories for the liberals in the 1960s, as a protest vote?
In the middle-class Orpington, the 1962 by-election had a 14,700 Conservative majority overturned to a 7850 Liberal majority
Who was the ‘spoiler’ vote in the 1964 election for the Conservatives?
The Liberals, who doubled their vote in the 1964 general election
How did the social changes in British society in the 1950s help Labour win in 1964?
People were less accepting of traditional authority and many wanted a new, modern, classless Britain run with professional, scientific competence
What suggest the 1964 was more of a rejection of the Conservatives than embracing Labour?
Labour got less votes in 1964 than in 1959, with just 900 votes in eight crucial constituencies had voted Tory then the Conservatives would of won
What did Douglas-Home appear to be during his premiership?
A modest, decent and trustworthy, while Wilson had something of a reputation for political cunning
What were some of the reasons the 1964 general election was so close?
Douglas-Home was seen as a efficient prime minister
Conservative tax cuts, though creating a trade deficit of £800 million
Unemployment dropped from 900,000 February 1963 to 300,000 by July 1964
Attitude to the Labour Party, espkaulling its links to trade unions
