Causes of the General Election Result 1945

Labour in the National Government (3)

Gave them the chance to prove they were competent and capable in government

This was difficult to demonstrate whilst leading weak minority governments

Many Labour politicians such as Attlee, Morrison and Bevin were now well respected in the country

Shift to collectivism (3)

The idea that the needs of the country should be put before the needs of individuals

Rationing and evacuation brought the classes together and made people want an active government who helped

This spirt arguably meant people were more willing to accept high taxation

Beveridge Report (4)

1942

Argued that there were “5 giants” in society that needed tackling: Squalor, Poverty, Lack of education, Unemployment, Disease

Incredibly popular during the war years

Helped fuel public desire for a government that would address these issues once the war ended

Conservative association (3)

Associated with the hardship of the 1930s

Many looked back on the 30s as a difficult time

The 30s was dominated by Conservatives in the NG so they were associated with negative events eg. GD, high unemployment and appeasement

Conservative Manifesto (3)

Heavily based on foreign policy

This was not what the people of Britain wanted to see after years of fighting war

Their election campaign was complacent and lackluster compared to Labour as they assumed the public would vote for them due to Churchills role during the war

Labours Manifesto (4)

“Let us face the future”

Promised actions on Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Welfare

Many people wanted better life after the horrors of the war

Labour embraced the findings of the Beveridge report and promised to step in more to tackle issues in society

Change is social attitudes (3)

Caused by the war

People wanted to see real change in England

As the Conservatives dominated politics in the years before the war, they were not seen as the party who would bring change post-WWII

Mistake of the first radio broadcast (3)

Churchill, in the first speech of his election campaign, stated that a post-war Labour government would rely on a gestapo (violent nazi secret police) to enforce reforms

Public viewed this as bad taste

It was ridiculous as many Labour politicians worked tiressly and successfully in the NG to help win WWII and defeat Nazi germany