Weaknesses of Labour 51-60

Socialism

• the left of the party (Bevanites) believed in more state control of the economy and society

• Welfare measures should go further

• The left wanted unions to have a say in party policy whereas the right wanted it to be decided by parliament

Nuclear policy

• Left wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament

• Right wanted Britain to maintain nuclear deterrent

• Bevan opposed the rearmament of Germany and its inclusion in NATO

• 1955 - Bevan expelled from the party for going against policy

• 1960 party conference

  • Left forced a unilateralist nuclear policy using block votes of unions

• Block votes - Each Trade Union could cast votes depending on membership size. Votes were cast in a block so everyone was assumed to have the same opinion

• Within a year the policy was abandoned as many unionist were moderates and didn’t agree

Attitudes to Europe

• Attlee and Gaitskell both followed the stance of refusing to join the EEC

• Didn’t give the party a modern, progressive appearance

1959 General election

• Labour could win 1959 election as it was 3 years after the suez crisis

• Conservatives increased majority to 100 and won nearly 50% of the vote

• Labour promised state pension rises with no tax increase but had no answer to where the money would come

• After Gaitskell death in 1963, Wilson replaced him and revitalised the party to present a working image against the outdated Douglas-Home