Why Did Labour Win The 1964 Election

Question 1

Why were attitudes towards the conservatives an influence on the result ?
1. How long
2. Failures
3. Labour slogan
4. Economic symptoms

Answer 1

• Having been in power for 13 years many voters blamed the conservatives for the growing economic problems of the early 1960s
• conservatives failed to provide a solution for growing unemployment, inflation, industrial unrest and the disparity of wealth in certain areas
• Labour labelled the period as thirteen wasted years
• Evidenced in the 1961 balance of trade deficient, 1962 rising unemployment and sex scandals

Question 2

How was Homes leadership influential in the 1964 election result ?

Answer 2

• conservatives seemed out of touch with modern Britain with an old Etonian aristocratic Douglas Home
• 60 years old and reflected poorly to the younger 47 year old Wilson however many trusted Douglas Home more than Wilson
• Tories embedded with scandal and appeared to be a network of old boys who’s private areas were less desirable appearing: old fashioned, self indulgent and elite
• he was defendable:modest, decent and trustworthy however he was widely perceived as a distant, awkward aristocrat where as Wilson had a reputation for political cunning

Question 3

How were attitudes towards Labour important in the Conservative loss of office in 1964?

Answer 3

• voters distrusted Labour with links to trade unions and strikes against government policies reducing support
• party was internally divided and this was not fully resolved with middle class disliking their commitment to nationalisation
• Few Labour Party members held office before causing some voters to doubt their ability
• In constituencies like Smethwick Labour lost due to Conservatives making use of Labours unpopular immigration policies
• appealed well to the younger members of society who by 1960 idealised a modern, classless Britian

Question 4

Why was the image of Harold Wilson important in the Conservative loss of office in 1964?

Answer 4

• had not been united in 1955 or 1959 and the divisions over nuclear policy and nationalisation were still present but Wilson glossed over them presenting the party as modern and progressive
• embodiment of talented people from working class backgrounds succeeding- cultivated his image as a Yorkshire born grammar school boy who enjoyed football

Question 5

Why was labours manifesto improtant ( still apart of Harold Wilson)

Answer 5

Promised a range of policies to promote faster economic growth and full employment, improved welfare and health services, better housing and programme of comprehensive education
- matched Wilson’s pledge to ‘harness science to our economic planning’ and a Britain ‘forged in the white heat of this revolution’
- enticing and modern policies

Question 6

Why was the liberal revival important in the election result of 1964?

Answer 6

• many middle class voters wanted to register protest but wouldn’t vote for Labour
• show most in the middle class Orpington in 1962 where a conservative majority was overturned by a liberal candidate winning 7850
• increased vote for the liberal party took votes from the Conservatives allowing for an increase in labour seats at Dover, Wellingborough and Bolton East

Question 7

Why were social changes improtant to the election result of 1964?

Answer 7

• increase in living standard people and more money to spend and young became more independent and less willing to accept traditional authority
• attitudes changes encouraged by cultural changes of the decade as media challenging attitudes and poking fun of traditional elements
• grammar schools pupils influx into uni and careers
• young people wanted to create a newer more modern, classless Britian
• polls shows voters under the age of 44 would likely vote for Labour

Question 8

What did both parties win in terms of seats ?

Answer 8

Labour: 317
Conservatives: 304