Conservative domination 1951-64 Flashcards
Why the Conservatives won the election of 1951?
- Younger Members of the Tory Parliament – new ideas and confidence – E.g. R.A. Butler
- Under direction of Lord Woolton – Conservative party reformed its finances and organization – much better positioned to fight for seats and votes.
- Attack on governments nationalization of iron and steel provided a strong platform for the conservative’s opposition attack.
- Electorate impressed with Conservative projection of themselves as upholders of liberty and individualism against the deadening hand of state centralization and collectivism.
Why Labour Lost the election of 1951?
- Narrow defeat of Atlee’s government:
- 6 years in office – worn down by heavy economic and financial difficulties.
- Serious division between right- and left-wing factions of the party – over economics, welfare and politics.
- Associated with policy of austerity forced to cut back on imported goods – encourage exports + maintain high taxation and rationing.
- The Korean War in 1950 – defence spending had risen – less money for spending at home.
- Defending – led to cuts in NHS – charges for spectacles, prescriptions, and dental care – led to division in Lab Party.
Other Reasons for the outcome of the 1951 election?
- Labour won more individual votes 48.8% compared to conservative 48%.
- Conservative won 321 seats compared to Labours 295 seats.
- Decline in popularity of Liberal Party from 2.6 mil to 750,000 in 1951.
- Liberals turned into conservative votes – trad Liberals disliked Labours focus on nationalisation.
- Impacted marginal labour seats from 1950 election.
- 1945 – sympathy for socialism and administration for planning and state control of the USSR.
- By 1951 – Cold War – USSR seen as enemy – ideas of socialism and powerful state became less popular.
HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE CONSERVATIVE DOMINATION 1951-64 - standard of living?
o Relatively full employment in 1950s, only rose to peak of unemployment of 500,000 in 1950s. Low by modern standards + standards of inter-war period.
o Real wages rose – the money of wages rose faster than prices – people could by more.
o More people able to afford own homes. 1951 – 25% of people homeowners vs 1964 – 44%. More homes due to more houses built.
o Renting – made easier by relaxation of controls in 1957.
How Successful Was the Conservative Domination 1951-64 - Education?
o 6000 more schools built.
o Grammar schools created by Butler Act of 1944 – greater chance to children who could not afford private schools.
o Grammar schools benefited middle class voters – kept the Conservative in.
o Introduction of comprehensive education – greater fairness of opportunity to school-age children – many disadvantaged by 11+ examination – favoured more middle-class families.
o Increase in University education.
How Successful Was the Conservative Domination 1951-64 - Expectations?
o Credit and affluence - changes in what people expected compared to harsh world of 1920s and 30s.
o Better diet, homes, foreign holidays, more cars, better roads.
How Successful Was the Conservative Domination 1951-64 - young people?
-Unsuccessful
o Distinct teenage culture – Teddy Boys and Mods and Rockers – increased gap between generations.
o Responsive manufacturing section – realised young people as consumers of music, clothing and entertainment – produced for younger market.
o 1964 – Britain more young + vibrant society – impact on a move away from conservative leaders viewed as ‘old fashioned’.
How Successful Was the Conservative Domination 1951-64 - Multi-cultural Britain
-Unsuccessful
o Influx of immigrants from the west indies + other parts of former empire.
o Tensions and concerns among native population – E.g. Notting Hill race riots 1958 and Nottingham and Wolverhampton riots in 1959.
o Commonwealth Immigrant Act 1962 – restrictions on immigration from the commonwealth. Criticised due to discriminatory nature+ exacerbating race tensions.
o Implication of restrictive immigration policies – alienated ethnic minority voters – weakened Conservative support among more liberal and progressive sections of society.
o Labour – promoted racial equality and social inclusion in their policies.
Conservative economic policies:
-Butskellism
-Stop-go
Butskellism
o R.A. Butler – Chancellor of the Exchequer – very similar policies to Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell – ‘Butskellism’ indicated little difference between the economic policies.
‘Stop-go’
o Policy of ‘stop-go’ – if economy needed boosting – lower interest rates and reduce taxation – more spending money, production from home demand goes up. Increase import duties on imported goods – protect British producers.
o Economy grows to much – and prices start to rise (inflation) – increase interest rates and taxation – especially purchase tax on sales – take money out of economy – prices fall.
Conservative Economic Success?
o High level of employment for most of the period E.g. in 1955 unemployment was 1.9%.
o Growth in welfare spending and house building – supported by economy. E.g. NHS significant expansion – Hospital plan of 1962 – proposed building of numerous hospitals – expansion of existing facilities.
o Industries expanded – aircraft manufacture, cars and chemicals. E.g. British Aerospace’s saw increased production in this period.
o More credit available – achieve higher living standards. Helped manufactures produce goods from home market – e.g. vacuum + cars. E.g. the Hire Purchase Act 1958 – regulated the hire purchase industry – making it easier for consumers to purchase goods on credits.
o Growth in infrastructure – new roads built, and motorway system began. E.g. Construction on M1 motor way started in 1950 s completed in 1959.
o Growth of road transport enough to reduced concerns about controversial railway reduction in 1963 – result of Beeching Report, which was seen as major piece of modernisation – save money + cut back loss making lines – later criticised as short-sighted.
Conservative Economic Failures?
o Britain’s economic growth lagged behind other countries. Britain’s GDP growth averaged around 2-3% annually during this period, countries like Germany and Japan higher growth rate of 5% annually.
o Its share of world trade fell – export markets lagged behind domestic manufacture.
o Lots of money went to defence expenditure (10% of GDP, the annual total value of goods and services)
o Failure to modernise traditional industries – coal and engineering. E.g. number of deep coal mines decreased from 800 to 300. Coal production decline from 200 million tons in 1951 to 150 million tons in early 1960s.
o Management methods – old fashioned – Britain’s economy was high cost and labour intensive. Trade union influence – kept workplaces overmanned and uneconomical.
o Did not Join the EEC – did not benefit from expansion of European economy.
o Suffered due to persistent price rises (inflation) and lack of modernisation (stagnation).
o From 1961 – economy showed signs of weakness – rise of unemployment to 800,000 in 1963 – worsening labour relations and exports lagged behind imports – there was a balance of payment deficit.
Conservative Leadership: Churchill
Churchill as peacetime Prime Minister, 1951-55:
o Weak interest in domestic policy.
o 77 yrs – lacked energy.
o Domestic affairs dominated by R.A. Butler.
o Suffered a stroke in 1953 – kept secret – government continued anyway.
Conservative Leadership: Eden and Suez Canal
1955-57
o Charming + Personable figure – reassuring and highly experienve.
o 1956 – bad policy decision.
o Angry at Egyptian president, Nasser, for nationalising Suez Canal in 1956, Eden formed pack with France and Israel and ordered an invasion.
o Nasser blocked canal as soon as invasion happened.
o Britain could not get oil tankers through.
o USA disapproved of invasion – had not been consulted.
o Russians were hostile to the operation.
o British public opinion – very opposed to the invasion.
o Reckless decision – forced to withdraw forces – resigned in 1957.
Conservative Leadership: Macmillan, 1957-1963
o Took over after disastrous Suez Canal crisis.
o Calm leadership – popular both home and abroad.
o Warm, witty natural TV performed.
o Moved with the times.
o Ended death penalty.
o National Service was expanded on 1959.
o Made it clear that Britain would accept African Independence in 1960. ‘the wind of change’.
o 1959 election – highpoint – Britain seemed prosperous – Macmillan claimed Britain has ‘never had it so good.
o 1962 – one of the biggest cabinet sackings in history – seven senior ministers and nine others lost their jobs. ‘The Night of Long Knives’
o 1961 – Macmillan unable to prevent growing economic issues – balance of trade deficit – evidence of downturn in the economy – importing more than exporting.
o Britain not significant in major world events – USSR – building Berlin Wall – and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. – revelaed Britain was no longer a major power.
o 1962 – unemployment rising – number of days lost to strikes increasing.
o Profumo Affair in 1963 – Defence minister – compromised his relationship with a prostitute who had also had relations with Soviet military attaché.
Conservative Leadership: Home
1968-64
o Sir Alec Douglas-Home – Scottish lord – served with Neville Chamberlain as Lord Douglass but had given up his peerage.
o Aristocrat – old Etonian.
o Chosen by a small group of conservatives – not by party or MPs.
o Satirised in the Press – Private Eye magazine and TV.
o Power for just under year.
o Chosen by old-boy network of Etonians – clear sign conservative party had not changed.
