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After Gaitskell death in 1963, Wilson replaced him and revitalised the party to present a working image against the outdated Douglas-Home
