1.1 Why did Conservatives win the 1951 Election?

Constituency

A group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative (MP).

What is the UK’s voting system?

First past the post : system in which the 'winner takes all,' requiring a candidate to have one more vote than the nearest rival to win the seat.

Marginal seats

Parliamentary constituencies where the number of votes cast for two parties is very close, causing changes in the winning candidate when voter choices shift.

Boundaries of constituencies

Regularly reviewed lines that determine the division of areas for electoral purposes, aimed at containing approximately the same number of voters.

Give percentages for the 1851 Election results

Conservative : 48%

Labour : 48.8%

Liberal : 2.5%

Other : 0.7%

Give seat statistics for the election results

Conservatives : 321

Labour : 295

Liberal : 6

Other : 3

How many votes did Labour and Conservatives gain respectively?

Conservatives gained 4 million

Labour gained 2 million

Labour weakness factors

1. Public dissatisfaction with policies such as austerity, rationing, and high taxes due to the welfare state led to discontent

2. Financial strains due to the Korean War 1950-53

3. Party was divided on views such as whether the include dental treatment and prescriptions in NHS

4. Outdated and dying - President of Exchequer was ill and their Chancellor died in 1950

Conservative strengths

Lord Woolton

Reginald Maudling

Promise of building 300,000 a year and giving people more red meat

Made it clear they wouldn’t reverse welfare state

Reward Churchill for WW2

Work of Lord Woolton

Chairman

Reformed party finances

Organised local and national cooperation

Addressed anger at Labour’s austerity

Work of Reginald Maudling

Young, talented politician

Brought new ideas and dynamism

Focused on economic reform e.g. suggesting freer market which appealed to voters who were restricted with post-war restrictions

Electoral system impact

Despite receiving 200,000 more votes, Labour 26 secured fewer seats due to the :

1. 1948 Representation of the People Act

   This meant Labour had to gain 2% more votes for the same amount of seats.

2. Decline in Liberal Party meaning many ex-liberals turned to the Conservatives

Decline in Liberal party

Financial challenges and lack of leadership led to a significant drop in Liberal party votes from 2.6 million in 1945 to 730,556 in 1951.

1948 Representation of the People Act

reorganised unequal constituency sizes

Ensured one person one vote (as previously uni grads and property owners could vote twice).