Why the Conservatives won in 1951 Flashcards
What were the internal reforms made within the Conservative Party before the 1951 election?
Lord Woolton reformed the Conservative Party’s finances and local organisation.
Reginald Maudling introduced new ideas, such as accepting popular welfare state policies.
What promise regarding housing did the Conservative Party make during the 1951 election?
The Conservatives promised to build 300,000 new houses a year, which was more than the 200,000 houses built by the Labour government.
What role did Winston Churchill play in the Conservative Party’s success in 1951?
Churchill was still a popular figurehead of the Conservative Party during the 1951 election.
What was a key weakness of the Labour Party during the 1951 election?
Despite Labour winning 2 million more votes than in 1945, they were still associated with several weaknesses.
What economic issues were the Labour government associated with leading up to the 1951 election?
The Labour government was linked to austerity, continued rationing (bread rationing continued into 1946, and petrol rationing lasted until 1950), and higher taxation.
What foreign policy issue hurt the Labour government in the 1951 election?
The Labour government had taken Britain into the Korean War (1950-53), which became an issue for many voters.
What divisions within the Labour Party were seen as a weakness in the 1951 election?
The Labour government was seen as divided, with notable figures like Aneurin Bevan resigning due to the imposition of charges for dental treatments, prescriptions, and glasses.
How did the electoral system impact the 1951 election results?
The First Past the Post system meant that it was the number of seats won, not the number of overall votes, that determined the outcome.
What was the vote and seat count for the Labour Party in the 1951 election?
Labour won 13.9 million votes but only 295 seats in the 1951 election.
What was the vote and seat count for the Conservative Party in the 1951 election?
The Conservatives won 13.7 million votes and 321 seats in the 1951 election.
How did boundary changes in 1948 affect the 1951 election?
Boundary changes in 1948 made some Labour constituencies, which had once been safe seats, more marginal (close).
What was the state of the Liberal Party during the 1951 election?
The Liberal Party’s vote share declined to just 730,000, and many of their voters switched to the Conservatives instead.
