Why did the conservatives win the 1951 election

3 Main reasons for why each party won within the elections questions

Conservative strength/weakness

Labour strength/weakness

Liberals swaying the vote

First past the post system

candidate with the most votes wins regardless of if they won the majority or not

Labour weaknesses 1951

• Associated with austerity, rationing and high taxation which the public wanted to see ended

• Had been responsible for taking Britain into the Korean war 1950 which added to financial strains

• The party was divided - seen clearly in the imposition of charges for dental treatment which undermined the principle of the NHS being free at the point of treatment

• The debates on dental treatment and reduction of Labours majority to 5 in the 1950 election encouraged MP’s to voice their concerns about economic and foreign policy which widened divisions between the left and the right

• Labour nationalised the iron and steel industry which provided a contentious issue which the Conservatives could challenge

Conservative strengths 1951

• Work of Lord Woolton in reforming the parties finances and local organisation - party in a stronger position to challenge Labour

• He was aided by an influx of young talented politicians entering the party - such as Reginald Maulding - gave the party new ideas and dynamism

• Offered an attractive programme - promised to build 300,000 houses a year during a serious housing shortage, give more red meat during a serious ration hatred, and commitment towards Labours Welfare State - in practice the Conservatives were offering a more appealing version of Labours campaign

• Many people still saw Churchill as a Hero and thought by electing him they could show their thanks.

Other Reasons for Conservative win 1951

• Nature of the British electoral system - Labour needed 17,000 more votes for each seat whilst Conservatives now needed 4,000 less - Due to the first-past-the-post system where Labour piled up safe seats but Conservatives won marginal Labour seats

• Boundary changes brought with the 1948 - Representaion of the People act - redistribution of seats meant labour had to win 2% more of the popular vote to with the same number of seats

• Decline in the Liberal Party - vote for Libs fell by 2 million votes and many ex-liberal voters turned to the Conservative party allowing them to win marginal Labour Seats.