To what extent did the political landscape change 1918-79? Flashcards
(36 cards)
In the year 1918 how many seats did David Lloyd George’s coalition govt have?
470 seats out of 650
What led to the liberal party being politically impotent?
- Scandal - DLG accused of being unfaithful, wrapped in scandal, selling knighthoods
- Rise of the Labour Party - higher trade union memberships meant more funding for labour as opposition
- Tory Strength - patriotic one nation party, plural voting advantage in elections
When was the last time the liberals were in government?
1924 - in coalition with Ramsey McDonald’s Labour government
Why did Labour rise so significantly in the 1920s?
- The extension of the franchise 1918
Universal extension (Rep. of the People Act 1928) - TU membership - national federation of miners of GB with 1 million members
- Working class identity
When was Stanley Baldwin PM?
Twice -> 1923-24 and 1924-29
Due to the Great Depression, what does Chancellor Snowden propose in 1931? (This leads to the formation of the Coalition govt)
A 10% cut in unemployment benefit -> Cabinet disagrees -> leads to Ramsey McDonald to go to the King -> told his patriotic duty is to form a coalition government
What was the Labour Party divided between in the 1930s?
Themselves and opponents in the National Government-> 52 seats vs NGov. 470
Who formed the National government with who in the 30s
Ramsay McDonald and the Conservatives - many betrayed by RMD seen as a traitor to the socialist cause
What year does Ramsey McDonald step down due to health issues?
1935- Stanley Baldwin becomes PM
What was a far right extreme political threat in the 1930s?
Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists -> grew to 50,000 members
What was a main disagreement in politics during the late 1930s?
Rearmament vs Disarmament
What parties did the wartime coalition bring together? (1939)
Labour, Conservatives and Liberals
Who held the key positions of power in Churchill’s wartime government?
Deputy PM -> Clement Attlee
Labour Minister-> Ernest Bevin
Home Secretary-> Herbert Morrison
Labour politicians -> demonstrated competence and shifted public support
What was the catchphrase of Labour’s 1945 manifesto?
Let us Face the Future
Why didn’t Tories win the 1945 election despite the popularity of Churchill?
Tories were blamed for interwar issues like 2.5 million unemployed in 1933, also appeasement policy
What was the percentage approval rating of Labour’s post 1945 welfare and full employment commitments?
89% approval rate according to 1942 polls
What was Attlee’s famous political philosophy/policy
The Middle Way
What was the number of seats won by Labour in their 1945 landslide?
393 seats
With London going 49/62 in favour of Labour
What were the pros and cons of the Labour govt’s policies between 1945-51
Pros -> Butler Act, 1 million new homes, nationalisation
Cons -> Cost, frustration, overcrowding/slums, Argument over MC benefitting more than WC
When were and what were Labour’s drops in majority during the early 50s
1945 - majority of 146
1950 - majority of 5 seats
1951 - lost to Tories by 17 seats
Why did Labour lose the 1951 election?
- Austerity, rationing and high taxation
- Korean War 1950
- Party divided -> Bevanites. Vs Gaitskellites
In their 1951 manifesto, how many houses did the Tories promise to build?
300,000 a year
What food did the Tories promise to give British people more of in their 1951 manifesto?
Red Meat
In the 1950s whereabouts was there a shift on the political sphere?
To the left -> One Nation Tories
