1951 - 1964 Flashcards
(155 cards)
1
Q
What is Butskellism?
A
A term coined by the Economist that described the consensus politics in 1950’s Britain, the Names of the conservative left RAB Butler and the Labour right Hugh Gaitskell were combined
2
Q
What is consensus politics?
A
When both Labour and conservative policies and outlooks were very similar.
3
Q
How old was Churchill when he took office?
A
77 years old
4
Q
What health problems did Churchill Face?
A
He had already had two strokes and had a third one in June 1953, as a result he mainly acted as a figurehead for the conservatives - riding his wartime success and popularity.
5
Q
What was Churchill’s cabinet like?
A
Churchill appointed many non conservatives to stress the non partisian character of his government.
6
Q
Who were the two key ministers Churchill appointed in 195?
.
A
RAB Butler made the chancellor of the exchequer
Harold Macmillan made housing minister.
7
Q
Summarize the main outlook of Churchill during this time
A
Churchill was cautious and wanted to keep people happy so made no drastic policy changes and continued labours social reforms like the NHS and kept all industries privatized except steel. as well as adopting a form of Keynesian economics
8
Q
What was Churchills thoughts on the trade unions and what did he do with them?
A
Despite being against trade unions, Churchill supported trade unions and cooperated with them, he wanted to avoid a strike as that could have had a disastrous effect on the economy so he avoided confrontation through policies of compromise negotiation and arbitration
9
Q
What quote best summarises Churchills political actions and outlook?
A
‘What we need is a time of steady, stable administration… a period of healing and revival’
10
Q
Who was Churchills housing minister?
A
Harold Macmillan
11
Q
How many houses did the conservatives pledge to build in their electoral manifesto?
A
300,000 houses
12
Q
How many homes were built in 1953 and 1954?
A
1953: 327,000
1954: 354,000
13
Q
How did Macmillan achieve and exceed the housing target?
A
Through his energy and gift for public relations
The powerful support he had
The personal support from Churchill which allowed him to get the subsidies he needed from the treasury
14
Q
Why did the number of houses increase?
A
there were easier mortgages facilities
a relaxation of the licensing systems and control of land
15
Q
What was Macmillan Criticised for as housing minister?
A
Too many domestic areas were being built rather than industrial zones The housing programme mainly benefitted the middle class and upper working class, not the true poor
16
Q
What happened to Education in 1951 - 1955
A
The education minister Florence Horsburgh did relatively little
17
Q
What things happened to health/NHS in 1951-1955?
A
The health minister Iain Macleod introduced a 2s (20p) prescription charge that came with little outcry.
He also set up the Guillebaud committee to report on the NHS’s finances which showed it to be cost effective and efficient.
But there was gaps and anomalies in public health expenditure as well as a shortage of proper hospital provision
18
Q
What Balance of payments deficit did the conservatives inherit?
A
Deficit of £700 million
19
Q
How Did RAB Butler (Chancellor of the exchequer) reduce the deficit?
A
Introduced a series of cuts on Credit Travel allowance Food subsidies Meat rations Imports The bank rate was raised from 2%-4% Excess profit levy introduced.
20
Q
What was the balance of payments in 1952?
A
A surplus of £259 million
21
Q
What external factors may have played a part in reducing the deficit??
A
The end of the Korean war
a marked fall in import prices
22
Q
What happened as a result of the surplus?
A
Income tax cut in 1953/53
Interest rate reduced
Food rationing abolished
Most wartime restrictions and controls over the economy gone by 53/54
increased personal savings, home ownership and consumer goods like cars and washing machines
23
Q
Why did the surplus lead to inflationary pressures?
A
Because more people were spending more money and paid less taxes, the cost of goods increased and inflation began to occur
24
Q
What did Butler do to stop inflationary pressure?
A
Increased interests rate from 3 - 4.5$ in 1955 to encourage saving instead of spending
However he also cut income tax by a sixpence in the pound, giving people higher incomes potentially worsening inflation
25
In what way was Butlers economic policies a success?
The nation has near full employment, low inflation, low taxes, no balance of payments issues, and rising prosperity
26
Why do some people criticize butler?
He was called an 'economic innocent' as he had a policy that was not clear and kept contradicting itself, and his success may have been due to external factors like the end of the Korean war and a fall in marked import prices.
27
In what ways was there little progress made from the conservative government?
2s (10p) prescription charges introduced
very little progress for education
trade unions got what they wanted from Churchills compromises
by 1950's 26,000 immigrants came in a year creating social and political issues that were not dealt with
28
What was the order of the day in Churchill's eyes?
'Consolidation rather than innovation was the order of the day'
29
How did Eden take over from Churchill?
Churchill resigned in April 1955, and Eden quickly took over from him Before calling a general election in the may of 1955.
30
How many seats did the conservatives win under Eden?
344 seats.
31
What happened in the 1955 May election regarding Labour and conservative voter share?
The conservatives gained 23 seats while labour lost 38 seats and 1.5 million votes
However voter turnout overall was much lower and both parties lost votes
The conservatives lost only 500,000.
32
What was the conservative total majority?
Overall majority of 58 (first time the conservatives had increased their majority over the past election in 40 years).
33
What were the reasons for conservatives winning and gaining a reasonably large majority?
Rising prosperity
The cut in income tax by a sixpence in the pound by Butler
End of rationing and Wartime restrictions
The housing success of Macmillan
Eden as foreign secretary saw success in Germany and SE Asia
Eden was a particularly effective campaigner particularly on TV.
34
What were the reasons labour lost the 1955 election?
the labour government was seen as ageing and out of date (Eden focused on this during his campaign)
The labour party was divided between the Bevanites and the right of the party making them a mostly ineffective oppositions (divided over prescription payments for medicines).
35
Where was Eden educated?
Oxford
36
What position had Eden held under Churchill?
He had been the crown prince since 1942, meaning he was next in line for prime minister and Churchills number 2.
37
Why did Eden resign as Foreign secretary pre WW2?
Resigned as foreign secretary as he hated Britain's policy of appeasement when Germany was allowed to expand territorially unchecked, as a method of avoiding war. But later became foreign secretary again under Churchill's wartime coalition.
38
Why was Eden not a fully suitable PM?
Despite having plenty of foreign experience, he lacked domestic skills and was ill when he took over as PM.
39
What did people think of Eden when he became PM?
He was generally liked and met with support with many seeing him as a typical English gentleman and despite being on the right he followed many of Churchills left/centrist policies regarding welfare.
40
When coming into power what were the two big changed Eden made?
Appointed Harold Macmillan as foreign secretary after his success as housing minister
Made the newcomer Selwyn Lloyd defence minister.
Other than this he did relatively little to fundamentally change the government he inherited.
41
Who was Chancellor of the exchequer when Eden became PM?
The popular with the people RAB Butler he remained in this position from May 1955 to December 1955.
42
What changes happened in Eden's December 1955 cabinet reshuffle?
RAB Butler disappointed and angry when made Lord Privy seal and leader of the house of commons
Harold Macmillan replaces RAB Butler as chancellor of the exchequer
Selwyn Lloyd Replaces Macmillan as Foreign secretary.
43
What happens to RAB Butler from Churchill to Eden?
Churchill: Chancellor of the exchequer (Liked and successful)
Start of Eden (May 1955): Chancellor of the exchequer
Eden's December cabinet reshuffle: Lord Privy seal and leader of the house of Commons (Unhappy and non departmental).
44
What happens to Macmillan from Churchill to Eden?
Churchill: Housing minister (happy and successful)
Start of Eden (May 1955): Foreign secretary
Eden's Cabinet reshuffle (December 1955): Chancellor of the exchequer (unhappy).
45
What happens to Selwyn Lloyd from Churchill to Eden?
Churchill: N/A
Start of Eden (May 1955): Defence Minister
Eden's Cabinet reshuffle (December 1955): Foreign secretary.
46
What is the reasoning by Eden's cabinet changeovers?
Eden didn't want the powerful and influential politician Macmillan to be in a powerful position like the foreign office so he 'demoted' him to Chancellor and replaces him as foreign sec with the newcomer Selwyn Lloyd who is inexperienced and easy to control
He demotes RAB Butler because he is worried about his level of power and the two were close rivals during Churchill's premiership.
47
Why was Eden Criticised before Suez?
His cabinet reshuffling showed indecisiveness when arranging his cabinet which not only reduced voter intention for him but also damaged his relationships with other important ministers like Butler and Macmillan
He was criticised for being 'nervous' 'jumpy' and 'bad tempered' Increasing tensions all round between ministers and the public and the press continuously ran attacks on this.
48
What was Eden's popularity on the opinion polls in 1955 compared to 1956?
1955: 70% in favour
1956: 40% in favour
(there was also a decrease in 'safe seats' for the conservatives during the by elections).
49
What external factor made Eden seem weaker as a leader?
The new leader of the opposition Hugh Gaitskell was considerably more tough than Atlee had been, making Eden's flaws and misgivings all the more apparent, particularly highlighting Eden's failure of Domestic policy.
50
Where is the Suez Canal?
Egypt - connecting the Mediterranean and the red sea.
51
Why was Eden upset when the canal was nationalized?
Egypt was a British protectorate
Britain received some of the income generated by the Suez canal
Britain had been heavily involved in protecting the canal in both world wars.
52
Why did Nasser decide to nationalise the canal?
He had been receiving loans that would help build the Aswan Dam from the USA and Britain, but upon learning he was also asking the soviet bloc for aid, the USA's loans were withdrawn. In July 1956 he nationalised the canal as a method of raising funds.
53
Who was Egypt's president?
Colonel Nasser
54
Why was France angry at Egypt?
The French were resentful of Egypt's support of Arab nationalists in French Algeria.
55
Why was Israel angry at Egypt?
Egypt had become a major base for terrorist attacks on Israel after Israel was created in 1948 Muslim
Jewish tensions were high.
56
What did the Suez plan involve?
Israel would invade Egypt, UK and France would then step in as a peacekeeping force but with the real aim of seizing control of the Suez canal
The details were kept from the rest of the world and were only known in Eden's cabinet.
57
What happened after the invasion?
US president was furious and said he condone the actions and put heavy financial pressures on the UK. The soviets also threatened to protect Egypt with rocket strikes.
58
What were the consequences of the Suez canal crisis internationally?
The US suggested that Britain should not be apart of the UN peace keeping force
The UN condemned Britain - damaging their standings in the international community
Israel was upset that Britain had not Finished the Job
he US was upset they were not involved in the plan and that it had seemed the USSR was the reason Britain withdrew as they had sent a formal note the day before the withdrawal
Britain didn't act independently in a hostile military operation again
The Suez canal was a vitally important military position and that was gone.
59
What were the social consequences of the Suez crisis?
There were anti war protests on the streets 30,000 marched on Trafalgar square
Morale of the country worsened.
60
What were the political consequences of the Suez crisis?
Eden's reputation was fatally damaged and following his return from Jamaica he resigned officially due to 'ill health'
Labour - like the people - condemned Eden's actions, Gaitskell and Bevan opposed Eden's 'mad venture'
Bevan gave a speech of Eden's actions blackening Britain's name.
61
What were the circumstances of Eden's Resignation?
Eden went to Jamaica to recuperate and upon his return, he was met with a cold shoulder from his party
In 1957 he retired because of his 'ill health' but it was because of Suez.
62
Who were the two potential candidates to take over from Eden?
Harold Macmillan
| RAB Butler.
63
Who was more Popular among the British people, Macmillan or Butler?
RAB Butler.
64
What were the economic consequences of Suez?
A catastrophic fall in Britain's currency reserves as there were large withdrawals of foreign investors' deposits
The Suez canal was a large source of income and that was now lost
The USA threatened to withdraw loans.
65
Who was more popular among the conservative party?
Harold Macmillan.
66
What position had Macmillan held Under Churchill that had led to his increased popularity?
Housing minister
| set a target to build 300,000 homes and successfully built 1952 + 1953 327,000 one year and 354,000 the next
67
What were Macmillan's 4 different chancellors?
Peter Thorneycroft 1957-58
Derick Heathcoat Amory 1958-60
Selwyn Lloyd 1960-1962
Reginald Maulding 1962-1964
68
What was his constituent and how did this change his views?
Stockton-on-tees a very poor area, made him believed he would have converted to labour had it not been for WW2
69
What was his first cabinet like?
Only 16 members, 6 of them being old Etonians and only 2 went to a state school and it had no women (though this was not unusual for the time)
70
What were the (two) economic issues Macmillan faced?
Balance of payments issues
| problems with stop go economics
71
What were the issues with Balance of payments?
Higher wages were occurring, so aggregate demand in the economy was increasing -> TMT manufacturers did not export to other countries as much as demand in Britain was high enough, this reduced exports while imports remained high. Britain was in a trade deficit.
72
What was stop-go economics problems Britain was facing?
In 1957 there was an economic crisis as wages were higher than productivity and the value of pound against the dollar was falling -> Thorneycroft wanted to limit wage rises and cut the money supply -> Macmillan overruled this -> the pound increased its value and recovered -> TMT Amory provided tax cuts of £700 million and there was a general air of affluence -> but this led to worries of the economy overheating with inflation -> Lloyd introduces a 'pay pause' to stop this as well as NEDDY and NICKY ->Maudling comes in after Lloyd is sacked and lowers the bank rate to encourage spending and expansion -> but the increased demand increased imports and worsened the BoP deficit
73
Why was Peter Thorneycroft sacked?
After Suez and the drop in the pounds value, Thorneycroft tried to deal with the issue through a policy of Monetarism, and wanted to limit the supply of money and wage growth. Macmillan wanted to follow an expansionary fiscal policy so he overruled the potential cuts and sacked Thorneycroft.
74
What is monetarism?
The theory that changes in the money supply directly determine changes in prices, real GDP, and employment. (Thorneycroft wanted to lower the money supply)
75
What was NEDDY?
National Economic Development Council set up by Selwyn Lloyd that brought together academics, trade unionists and government reps to engage in long term economic planning for Britain.
76
What was NICKY?
National Incomes Commission Established by Selwyn Lloyd to keep an eye on wages and prices.
77
What did Lloyd introduce in 1961 to stop the economy overheating?
A 'pay pause'
78
In what event was Selwyn Lloyd sacked?
13th July 1962, Lloyd is sacked in the 'night of long knives' a major cabinet reshuffle that was used to conceal the sacking of Lloyd. Meant to show a fresh approach to he people, but gave an impression of Panic.
79
What was the Beeching Report?
In Autumn 1963, a report was published which recommended the cutting of expenses in the rail network
80
What did the Beeching report result in?
30% of Britain's rail network was closed, angering the public as isolated communities were cut off.
81
How did Reginald Maudling enter the economy into a 'go phase?'
He lowered he bank rate to encourage public spending
82
How much did the growth rate increase between 1963 and 1964 under Maudling?
1963: 4% growth rate
1964: 6% Growth rate
83
What was the Economy like overall under Macmillan?
Growing and living standards were increasing, but it was falling behind many other European countries and places like Japan, thanks to its heavy trading with the commonwealth and its 'stop go' policy of fiscal policy
84
What Laws had been put in place pre-Macmillan to boost Women's Rights?
- Sex disqualification removal act 1919 opened al professions to female entry
- Matrimonial causes act 1923 gave the right to wives to divorce their husbands if they had committed adultery.
- Representation of the people act 1928 gave the right to all women over 21 to vote
But this did not increase their social status much
85
What happened to the level of employment of female workers during and after the war?
During the war demand for female workers was high but after it ended the number of women in work fell by75% and after this it was very hard for women to find work
86
What things in the 1950's offered more opportunities for women?
The end of rationing meant they no longer needed to queue for food
Increasing availability of domestic appliances like dishwashers gave them more free time
The growing availability of consumer goods
All gave Women more free time and a better social life and leisure time
87
What were the improvements for women in the 50s/ early 60s?
- Number of divorces was increasing
- more leisure time
by 1960 Women made up a third of the workforce up from 25% just after the war
- Equal pa for civil servants 1954 and teachers 1952
- The number of families who owned a washing machine increased by 54% and refrigerators increased by 58% between 1957 and 1959 ( less time washing and no longer had to shop for fresh foods every day, it could be refrigerated
88
What were the negative aspects of women's place in society in the 1950s and 60s?
- 2/3 of working women were in low paid secretarial work, only 1 in 10 in higher post positions in the legal profession, civil service, and universities were women
- Average age of marriage was 21
- 75% of all women were married
- trade unions rarely supported women as they believed it meant accepting lower pay
- tax authorities declared women as being dependant on their fathers or husbands
89
Why was immigration increasing in the 50s and early 60s? `
the new commonwealth flow of immigrants came in after 492 west Indian migrants came to Tilbury docks, London on the Empire Windrush 172,000 Caribbean immigrants by 1961
90
How many new commonwealth migrants entered the UK in 1958?
210,000 (75% were male and looking for work so they could provide for their family)
91
What were the Notting Hill Race riots?
Although most people got along, tensions were rising. Notting hill was a run down area of London with a high level of people from the Caribbean, and in August 1958 Violence erupted.
92
What happened after the Notting Hill race Riots?
The leader of British Fascism Oswald Mosely used the race riots to call for repatriation (sending migrants back to their own country)
As a result the commonwealth immigrants act was passed that helped control immigration.
93
Why did Boys and Girls have more free time?
Girls no longer had to help out as long for as much due to the introduction of domestic appliances
Boys after 1960 no longer had to take part in national service (two years in the military)
This meant for the first time there was a discernible youth culture in Britain young people also had more money to buy culture items with.
94
What was the population of teenagers and why was it so high?
After the post war baby boom increased the number of teenagers. There was 5 million teenagers or 10% of the total population
95
What were the 3 main youth subcultures?
Teddy boys
Rockers
Mods
96
What were the teddy boys?
a group of teenagers linked with delinquency ad crime, they wore Edwardian style clothing and challenged social ideas and older people
97
Who were the rockers?
The Rockers listened to Rock and Roll when Bill Haley's rock around the clock reached Britain in 1955, they rode motorcycles and wore leather jackets
98
Who were the Mods?
Opposite of the rockers, they listened to pop music and wore smart clothing
The rockers and the mods often clashed , the biggest being in the seaside resorts of Brighton, Margate and Clacton (but the violence here was over exaggerated by the media)
99
List some examples of media that highlighted social tensions at the time
- The film sapphire had racial tensions as a key theme
- Gang violence was portrayed in the 1962 novel a clockwork orange
- lord Chatterley's lover was a sexually explicit book that sold over 2 million copies and won a court case
- Cathy come home was a tv show focused on homeless people
100
How many former colonies gained independence from Britain under Macmillan?
20 countries
101
What were previous governments thoughts on the British Empire?
the Labour government under Atlee wanted to keep the empire for as long as possible, and wanted Britain to remain influential even if the empire had fallen.
Churchill bitterly opposed Indian independence in 1947, and wanted Britain to be the link between the United States, Europe and the Commonwealth/Empire
102
What did Macmillan do regarding the empire as soo as he gained power?
He organised a 'profit or loss' audit for each colony
103
What happened to British trade with Europe and the Commonwealth in the 1960's?
Trade with the Commonwealth halved, while trade with Europe was quickly increasing
104
When and where was Macmillan's 'winds of change' speech take place?
In February 1960, in the South African parliament cape town
105
What did Macmillan say in his 'winds of change' speech?
That the 'winds of change' was blowing through the African Continent 'whether we liked it or not' 'the growth of national consciousness was a political fact'
106
How successful was decolonisation under Macmillan?
Very successful, 20 countries were decolonised under him very peacefully, except in Kenya where conflicts led to the death of 13,000 Kenyans and 100 Europeans, known as the Mau Mau rebellion.
107
What were the impacts of decolonisation on Britain?
- Britain had paid more in aid and grants than it had received in profit, so decolonisation benefited Britain financially (helping the BoP deficit)
- The moral of the population did not suffer too much, most saw it as the ethically right thing to do
- a few in the right wing protested setting up groups like the empire loyalists
108
What was the treaty of Rome?
After the war, cooperation between Europe was seen as a necessity, so the treaty of Rome was established that created a EEC - European economics community
109
Who were 'the six' who signed the treaty of Rome?
```
France
Germany
Italy
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
```
110
What were the key terms of the EEC (European economic community?)
- The creation of a common market ad a customs union to monitor all aspects of trade between member states
- The creation of a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
- Member states were required to follow a protectionist policy (Making all non-common market goods uncompetitive by denying entry or adding tariffs)
111
What was set up as a trial for the EEC?
The ECSC (European coal and steel committee) was set up 7 years prior.
112
What did Britain set up to help unite Europe?
Britain set up the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) that as effectively the EEC but allowed trade with others
113
Why did Britain want to join the EEC?
To boost industrial production in a large scale export market
to help speed up the growth of the economy which was slower compared to other similar countries
Macmillan believed joining the EEC would strengthen Britain's partnership with the USA
114
Why was Britain initially hesitant in joining the EEC?
The right and some others considered trade between CANZUK and the Commonwealth ore important that links with Europe
There was an assumption that Britain was still a global power and didn't need help
Britain wanted to Balance its involvement with the Commonwealth, America and Europe
What was the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) the goal of CAP was to end poverty in Rural areas, by subsidies by a transfer of money from a rich area, that provided a guaranteed price for their products.
115
When did Britain apply to join the EEC?
1963
116
Why did Charles De Galle veto Britain' s application?
- De Galle was suspicious of the USA's and Britain's special relationship and worried it would interfere with the EEC
- He believed it wasn't sensible for Britain to be trading with the EEC, EFTA, the USA and the Commonwealth
- Attempts to create a joint Anglo-French nuclear development program failed, and the French were still upset with what had happened during the Suez Crisis.
- France saw the EEC as a counterbalance to American Power and didn't want Britain to undermine that.
117
What was Britain's position during the Cold War?
The UK was strongly on the USA's side, Macmillan and Kennedy were very close during the CMC, with Kennedy updating Macmillan frequently via telephone
118
What did both Churchill and Atlee want Britain to have?
Both PM's wanted Britain to become an independent nuclear power
119
When did Britain first develop their own atomic bomb?
1952
120
What was CND and when was it formed?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament formed in 1958 and were against the construction of nuclear weapons and they quickly became one of the most powerful pressure groups in the Country
121
What prevented Britain from remaining an independent nuclear power?
In 1958, the Americans agreed to share nuclear technology, and gave the UK was given the American Polaris missile system, replacing their own.
122
What was Korea like after the second world war?
After being Liberated from Japan it was divided by a communist north and a capitalist South
123
Why were the USA able to launch an attack on the communist North Korea?
The Americans went to the UN and suggested a peacekeeping force should be sent as aid, but the Soviets could not veto this action because they had temporarily left the council as a protest for them not recognising communist china as a nation.
124
What support did Britain give the US during the Korean war?
Substantial diplomatic assistance and military support. 1788 British servicemen were killed or missing and 2498 were wounded
125
How did the Korean War end?
the Korean Armistice agreement was signed that divided the two countries across the 38th parallel (38 degrees N)
126
When was the korean Armistice signed?
27 July 1953
127
What were 4 of the scandals that rattled the conservative government in Macmillan's later years?
- The Vassal inquiry
- Kim Philby scandal
- The Argyll divorce case
- The Profumo affair
128
What happened in the Vassal enquiry?
The government was obliged to launch an official investigation into John Vassal, a civil servant in the admiralty, who had been caught spying for the soviet union. There were rumours other people high up in the admiralty tried to cover it up (but not proved0 It made it seem like the government could not control its departments.
129
What happened in the Kim Philby scandal?
In Jan 1963, it had been revealed that the senior official in the foreign office had been passing information to the USSR, as well as recruiting spies and and creating a spy network. Philby quickly fled to Moscow and the Macmillan government took most of the blame for the security service having a traitor so high in their ranks .
130
What was the Argyll Divorce case 1963?
The Duke of Argyll sued his wife in a court case ion the grounds of adultery. His wife Margaret was accused f having group sex and the duke supplied a list of the people she had sex with. In this list were some government officials , and two ministers allegedly appeared in a pornographic photo in court.
131
What happened in the Profumo affair?
```
IN 1963, Macmillan's minister for war John Profumo had an affair with Christine Keeler, who herself was having an affair with a man called Ivanov a member of the soviet embassy. In March 1963 Profumo declared to the house of commons that this was untrue but three months later he admitted he had lied to the house. It was revealed he had met Keeler at Cliveden house in Buckinghamshire. This was found out to be a brothel run by Dr Stephen Ward to procure girls for upper class men. Ward was a popular osteopath, so man conservatives were damaged by association. Ward was put on trial for immoral earnings and fearing it was going bad, he overdoses on sleeping medication and killed himself.
The investigation dominated the news for weeks, and further weakened the conservatives position. The conservatives could not control the coverage of Profumo affair in media.
```
132
What were the impacts of the Profumo affair?
Macmillan's readiness to accept Profumo's original denial of impropriety suggested that the PM was losing his political grip, or that he was purposefully covering up the other elites
The conservatives lost the next general election to Labour (but only barely by a 13 seat majority)
133
Who was a key figure in the left of the labour party?
Aneurin Bevan Left wing Labour
134
Who was a key figure in the right of the labour party?
Hugh Gaitskell
135
What were the three main factors that limited the labour party's effectiveness under Macmillan?
Election failures and the impact of it
Disunity and divisions
the impact of the CND and trade unions
136
What is a block vote?
Labour party procedures allowed individual trade union leaders to cast their conference votes on behalf of all members of their union which sometimes numbered in the millions.
137
Who was the leader of the Labour party at the start of Macmillan's time as PM?
Hugh Gaitskell (on the centre left)
138
What was unilateralism and who in the Labour party wanted this?
It was the idea that Britain should give up all its atomic weapons without waiting for the other nuclear powers to do so, this outlook was favoured by the far left and few who wanted to be rid of nuclear weapons to remove their financial burden.
139
How did the creation of the Welfare state result in disunity within the Labour party?
The left argued that because Britain was a welfare state, the economy should become more socialist and that the government should intervene more, wanting larger trade unions, led by the Bevanites. However Gaitskell being of the labour right and the leader of the party resisted trade union domination and unilateralism as his win over Bevan in 1955 gave him the ability to change the direction of the party
140
What happened at a 1960 labour conference?
Thanks to a block vote from the trade unions, the labour party voted to adopt unilateralism as an official party policy. Gaitskell was furious at this, 'we will fight, fight and fight again to save the party that we love. He accused this decision as weakening the labour movement and claiming it was political suicide
141
How was labour divided over the EEC?
Much of Labour was undecided on whether to join the EEC or not.
142
What were the main issues the labour party was divided over?
- Whether to join the EEC or not
- Splits over unilateralism
- divisions over how leftist/ how many socialist policies labour should adopt
- disagreements over the characteristics and goals of the party
- the Bevanites vs Gaitskelles
143
Briefly outline the history of unilateralism in the Labour party?
Agreed to adopt unilateralism as a party policy at a 1960 conference but then agreed to drop it at the 1961 labour conference
144
What was the CND?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
145
Who supported the CND?
Many of the Labour left supported the CND, including Bevan, but he renounced this in 1957
146
Who was Frank cousins? and why was he significant?
He was a labour left winger who became leader of the TGWU (transport and general workers union) in 1956, allowing him to be heavily influential in block votes (like the vote in the 1960 conference for unilateralism)
147
Why did much of labour think they would win the 1959 election?
It was the first election since the humiliating Suez crisis and many thought the people were against the conservatives budgetary policies.
148
Why did the election come at a bad time for labour?
The 1959 election occurred at a time of economic recovery which the conservatives used greatly in propaganda such as Macmillan's 'never had it so good' speech
149
What was one of labours key policies intended at winning over voters?
They promised to create a substantial increase in state pensions without a raise in taxation, but instead of winning over voters, many questioned where the money would come from to finance this as it was drafted hurriedly, embarrassing the party. Many people didn't believe this and thought that a labour in power would lead to increased taxes.
150
What was Labours policy on Europe and how did this affect things?
in 1962, Gaitskell announced Labour was against joining the EEC although they later abandoned this, where it was seen as embarrassing and a desperate bid for votes.
151
How many seats did labour lose in the 1959 election?
19 seats
152
How many seats did the conservatives gain in the 1959 election?
21 seats
153
How much was the conservatives overall majority after the 1959 election?
Overall commons majority increased to 100 seats
154
What were the impacts on Labour of the 1959 election?
- Gaitskell accused the labour left of weakening their movement by pushing for unilateralism
- The left of labour attacked Gaitskell for dropping nationalisation as a primary policy
- Many of the Labour right backed Gaitskell and formed the CDS - Campaign for democratic socialism.
155
What did people think of the changing society?
Most people disliked these changes and were against the 'immorality and depravity'
There was lots of criticism from the left wing that the focus on material wealth undermined decency
The opinion of Britain remained socially conservative
