Unit 1: Conservative Domination 1951-1964

Question 1

What were the main categorical reasons for the Conservative victory in the October 1951 general election?

Answer 1

• The appeal of the Conservative Party
• Weaknesses of the Labour Party and its policies
• The economic situation in Britain in 1951, largely attributed to Labour policies by the electorate
• The electoral system
• The decline of the Liberal Party

Question 2

What was appealing to the electorate about the Conservative Party in 1951?

Answer 2

• Lord Woolton, the then-Chairman of the Conservative Party, led a significant effort to reorganise and modernise the party after its electoral defeat in 1945, reforming its finances and revitalising its local presence
• An influx of young Conservatives, such as Reginald Maudlin, gave the party an air of dynamism and energy, allowing them to effectively capitalise on Labour’s controversial policy decisions
• The Party made several attractive promises: constructing 300,000 houses per year, lifting rations on red meat,