Conservative dominance and Macmillan as PM

Booklet 15

Reasons MacMillan was chosen over Butler:

• Success as Housing Minister

• Butler lacked killer instinct

• Butler was not impressive when standing in for Eden.

• MacMillan admitted that the Suez Crisis increased the National debt by £564 Million.

Examples of three young rising politicians MacMillan appointed, gaining favourability:

• Reginald Maudling

• Julian Amery

• Iain Macleod

What did Eden describe MacMillan as?

“Radical in his social, human and economic thinking.”

How much of a majority did MacMillan win the 1959 election by?

Majority of 100

Why was the economy in trouble, and what was MacMillan’s “People had never had it so good” a warning of?

Wages were running ahead of productivity - Inflation.

Who suggested wage increase limitations and cuts in 1958, leading to his and the the Treasury’s resignation?

Thorneycroft

What were the amount of tax cuts before the April 1959 election?

£370 Million along with beer duty cut.

Reasons for 1959 Election win:

• Rise of consumerism

• Good TV PM, personal popularity rose from 40%-70% during 1957-1959.

• Heathcote Amory’s tax cuts.

• Labour split, electorate also did not find Gaitskell’s promises convincing.

• Party Chairman Hailsham used new campaigning methods like commercial advertisers.

How many homes did the conservatives build between 1955-1964, creating a “Property owning democracy”?

3.1 Million

Why was it easier to buy goods, cars, mod cons and foreign holidays?

The availability of credit.

Criticism of Tory House building campaigns:

Came from borrowing and this created large, socially harmful debt.

MacMillan Acts of First Ministry:

• Rent Act 1957: Abolished rent control, causing 810,000 houses to move out of rent control.

• The Life Peers Act 1957: MPs and public figures could become lords, then to have it ceased on death.

• The Homicide Act 1957: Reduced the number of executions, in response to controversial hangings like Ruth Ellis.

• Mental Health Act 1959: Mental and physical illness to be treated in the same way.
  

What did Labour call the Rent Act 1957?

A “Landlords’ charter” to exploit the vulnerable.

How many days were lost to strike action in 1957?

8.5 Million days

What was unemployment at in 1963 due to economic stagnation?

900,000 unemployed

What industry did Britain spend on heavily, causing her to fall behind industrially?

The Nuclear arms programme, naval and military bases.

Who did MacMillan appoint as the Home Secretary and Education Secretary at the 1959 election?

• Butler - Home Secretary

• Boyle - Education Secretary

British Nuclear Advancement up until 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty:

• Atomic Bomb detonated in 1952 and Hydrogen Bomb detonated in 1957.

• Nassau Agreement - UK to use US Polaris submarines to launch nukes.