Politics 1945-1964 Flashcards
(12 cards)
What helped Labour win the general election in 1945 after the war was won?
-Labour’s commitment to the Beveridge report in the general election which was extremely popular with the electorate.
-The success of collectivism during the war (war socialism) meant it was accepted by both workers and sections of the M/C
-Labour won with a majority of 147 Mps
What was Labour’s slogan?
“Now Win the Peace” - was a departure from Conservatives reputation for the “hungry thirties” and appeasement before ww2
What was there a post-war consensus for after WW2?
-Conservatives agreed with most of Labour’s reforms: NHS, welfare state, NATO, and nationalisations (except iron and steel)
-However, Conservatives were reserved about economic policy and their commitment to the M/C and cutting taxes
When did the conservatives come back into power and why?
-Came back into power in 1951
-Their slogan “Set the People Free” resonated with people as they became exhausted by the austerity imposed by Labour even after the war
-Also labour did not build enough housing
-HOWEVER: Labour did have more % of votes in 1951
What made Labour unpopular in the 1950s?
-Left wing of the labour party wanted greater nationalisations and unilateral nuclear disarmament - frustrated from high defence spending
What were Gaitskell’s (leader of the labour party) views and what did he want to do with Clause 4?
1) Gaitskell saw unilateralism ( nuclear disarmament) as national and electoral suicide since only 20% of the voters agreed with it
2)He wanted to remove Clause 4 ( failed to do so in 1957) and by 1961 the conference committed itself to unilateralism which he reversed - damage still done)
What was the Suez Crisis?
-1956
-Britain invaded Egypt due to the Suez Canal being nationalised
-American and president Eisenhower was very hostile and threatened to stop payments to Britain if they did not leave - Embarrassing for GB as it showed their reliance on US.
-Led to Antony Eden resigning and replaced by MacMillan
Did the Suez crisis make Conservatives unpopular?
-Only agitated a section of workers and most were committed to conservatives due to the successes of the economy and the growth in consumerism - Eden reduced mortgage taxes and Macmillan who introduced credit
What was the phrase Butskellism?
-Phrase used by the magazine “the Economist”
-Used to compare Butler (cons. chancellor of exchequer) and Gaitskell (leader of labour)
-Used as an indicative of post-war consensus
Was the comparison under Butskellism correct?
NO:
-Butler wanted to cut taxes whilst Gaitskell wanted to increase them
-Butler wanted to join the European project whilst Gaitskell was opposed to it
-Butler wanted to depart from full employment and commit to ROBOT in 1952- Churchill overuled it (NOT HAPPENING)
What were the criticisms of the establishment?
-Grew out of the Suez Crisis 1956 and the Profumo scandal (John profumo affair with Christine Keeler who also had relationships with Russian spy)
-Suez Crisis
Who replaced Macmillan and how did this help Harold Wilson’s push for the crticism of the establishment?
-Macmillan was replaced by Lord Home- aristocratic background
- This helped Harold Wilson’s projection of his meritocratic rise vs. the out of touch tories
