Why Was The ‘Old Consensus Within The Labour Party’ Weaker By 1956? Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Attlee’s weak position in the 1950s?
A
- ‘New Jerusalem’ ideas were still popular but people were impatient for a better life and were prepared give Churchill a last go
- Normally, the party leader resigns such as Gordon Brown in 2010, yet Attlee was persuaded to carry on due to the narrow defeat
- Attlee was 72 in 1951 and had been party leader since 1935 however, his age wasn’t the only issue as Attlee’s cabinet which helped him lead were aging - Ernest Bevin, Stafford Cripps, Herbert Morrison was sidelined
2
Q
Who was going to take over from Attlee?
A
- Two younger cabinet ministers under Attlee emerged as potential leaders to replace him.
- Their ideas for the future of the party were very different and would almost split the party in two.
- They were on different ends of Labour’s political spectrum with Gaitskell on the right and Bevan on the left
3
Q
Who was Nye Bevan?
A
- came from poor working class Welsh family and was committed to improving workers rights
- trade unionist and labour mp
- set up NHS as health minister
- resigned in 1951 from the government in protest at the introduction of prescription charges in dental and eye care
- strong left wing views and was reluctant to comprise
4
Q
Who was Hugh Gaitskell?
A
- privately educated and got a first from oxford in PPE
- spent time teaching in Nottinghamshire coal mining communities before being a university lecturer and an MP in 1945
- served as chancellor under Attlee in 1950-51
- introduced prescription charges which three government members resigned
5
Q
What were the divisions over nuclear weapons?
A
- 1945 - USA dropped first atom bomb on Hiroshima at the end of WW2 which led to the Cold War where countries needed ‘the bomb’ to become a superpower
- However, this club costs billions to join and in 1952 Britain successfully tested its own bomb to enter it
- by 1957 the Mac government tested a hydrogen bomb
Bevanites: unilateralist = wanted to give up weapons even if others didn’t as the money could be spent on health and education. However, Bevan did modify his views in the 1950s and reluctantly said they were needed to keep peace
Gaitskellites: multilaterlist = believed they were necessary if others had them
6
Q
What were the divisions over ‘Cause IV’ and nationalisation?
A
- The original constitution of the Labour Party set out in ‘Clause IV’ aim of any future labour government should be to nationalise key industries, so that they would be run for the common good and not private profit
- Under Attlee, Labour had nationalised many key industries - this had been largely maintained by the Conservatives governments after 1951
Bevanites: supported this idea and that it should go even further provide jobs
Gaitskellites: did not want to reverse nationalisation but argued it had gone far enough and that some businesses should be privatised. He opposed clause IV and the control of the economy by the government
7
Q
What were the divisions over trade unions?
A
- During the 1950s economic boom there were low levels of unemployment and steadily-rising wages so Trade Union membership rose steadily and they became more confident that threatening strike action would maintain ever-growing workers’ rights and wage levels.
- The Unions helped to fund the Labour Party and were starting to dictate their ideas to them
Bevanites: favoured close ties with the unions and wanted to continue to support
Gaitskellites: took a cautious approach due to their increase in power and kept them at arms length
8
Q
What happened after Attlee resigned in 1955?
A
- Gaitskell became leader but he strategically put Bevan is shadow foreign secretary
- However, arguments continued and without Attlee meant they were out in the open
- in the late 1950s, Labour were characterised by infighting and as a result became unelectable which was an important factor in conservative domination in 1950s
