1951-1964 Politics

Why did Churchill win the election?

• Labour had won more votes but Conservatives won more seats

• Churchill was seen as a war hero

• The press were against Labour

What was Churchill’s time like?

• He focused more on foreign policy meaning Eden, Macmillan and Butler often acted as PM

• He was 76 when re-elected

• He suffered a stroke in 1953 which left him with impaired speech

How did Churchill uphold Post War Consensus?

• He worked with the trade unions and employers

• He had a wish to ensure full employment

Who was R.A Butler?

• best prime minister they NEVER had

• Chancellor under Churchill’s government

Why was Macmillan significant in Churchill’s term?

He was the housing minister who delivered on his promise and built 300,000 new homes

Why was Anthony Eden significant? (1955-57)

• Key role in WW” as foreign secretary

• Became PM in 1955

• Resign in 1957 dye to “ill health”- reality was due to Suez

What social reforms did Macmillan introduce?

• Clean Air Act 1956- aimed to prevent smog

• Housing and factory Acts- aimed to improve living and working conditions

How did Macmillan reflect Post War Consensus?

He was a “one nation tory”and didn’t make any changes to the NHS.Macmillan also passed acts that would typically be labour policies

What was the Night of Long Knives?

Macmillan sacked 1/3 of his cabinet as an attempt to make it stronger. However, the public thought the government was week and couldn’t understand Macmillan’s decision

What was the John Profumo scandal?

He was the defence secretary and was having an affair with Christine Keeler, she was sleeping with a soviet spy at the time. Profumo lied and Macmillan defended him in parliament.

How did the Profumo affair damage Macmillan?

Macmillan was deemed foolish and weak as the inquiry deemed that Profumo was having an affair.Things were made worse as this was the height of the Cold War

Why was Macmillans choice of appointing Douglas Home as foreign secretary criticised?

• There were two candidates more suitable for the role

• He has to get Home in the Lords to allow him to serve

• Home was also older than Macmillan which seemed as though Macmillan was stuck in the ‘bygone age’

Why did Macmillan win the 1959 election?

• He was a good middle ground for people

• He was reliable as shown when building 300,000 homes

• The labour party was extremely divided still

Who were bevanites?

• They were to the left of the party

• He was pro-nationalisation and working class

• He wanted unilateralism (britain should get rid of nuclear weapons regardless on if the rest of the world did)

Who were the Gaitskellites?

• To the Right of the party

• Wanted to cut welfare spending and were pro capitalism

• Against joining the EEC

• Multilateralism- everyone should disarm at the same time

Why did Aneurin Bevan resign as health minister?

He resigned due to the 20p prescription charges which were bought in for glasses and false teeth

What was Clause IV?

• Nationalisation- Gaitskell wanted to abolish it

• Bevan opposed it and they fought in the 1959 party conference over it

• Gaitskell ended up backing down

Reasons for Macmillan’s government declining

• The Economy

• Scandals

• International Issues

• Internal Conservative Issues

• Labour strengths