Conservatives domination 51-64

Why did the Conservatives dominate for so long?

• Economy

• Wages and living standards

• Credit

• Housing

• Economic policy

• Unemployment

• Social policy

Economy

• industrial growth inevitable after the war

• Countries had more money to spend on goods instead of defence

• Growth rate not as impressive as others

• Britains share of world trade shrank from 25% to 15% while others grew

• 10% of GDP on defence instead of funds for industrial growth

Wages and living standards

• Rise in living standards

• Wages rose faster prices - more disposable income

• Cut income tax before 1955 and 1959 election to increase “feel good factor”

  • Used to win votes

• 500% increase in car ownership

• Purchase of washing machines increased

• Less reasons for electorate to vote for change

Credit

• Able to borrow money

• Spread cost over years so could purchase items not available before

• Able to go on foreign holidays

Housing

• Met target through 354,000 houses in 1954 and built 1.7 million while in office

• The Rent Act made more house available to rent

• Rent prices rose and tenants couldn’t afford them

• House Ownership rose to 44% by 1964

• Middle and upper classes had no reason to vote Labour

Economic policy

• Consistent and similar to previous Labour governments

• Butler increased borrowing to improve expenditure on health, education and housing

• Increased spending on welfare state

• “Butskellism” - brought together policies of the Conservative Butler and the Labour Gaitskell

• “Stop-Go approach” - if spending or wages rose too quick, tax and interest rates would increase and import controls prevented foreign purchases. Opposite for a fall in demand

• Britain had no overall economic policy

• “Stagflation” - Industrial output Declined but inflation remained

• Failed to invest in important industries which hindered growth

Unemployment

• unemployment remained high

• Some years fell but it was never below 250,000

Social policy

• Increase spending on welfare

• More housing

• Changes to education system

• Three tier system replaced by the comprehensive system

• More comprehensives opened under Conservatives than Labour shows their ability to accept and adapt

• 1963 Robbins report attempted to expand universities and provide larger grants to increase funding

• 6000 new schools