CM1 - The political environment of the UK post-WW2

What 5 parties have existed since the WW2?

• The Conservative Party ( Tories ) since 1832

• The Liberal Party ( The Liberals ) from 1859 to 1988

• The Liberal Democrats ( Lib Dems ) since 1988

• The Labour Party since 1900

• The Green Party ( The Greens ) since 1985

What was the political trend after WW2 and until when did it last?

Socialism from 1945 to 1951

Who was William Beveridge and what did he want to create ?

• Member of the Labour Party

• Create social security to eradicate the “5 giants” : want ( poverty ), disease, ignorance ( education ), squalor ( housing ) and idleness ( unemployment )

• Creation of social security within a Welfare State

What legislation did Labour create when introduced ?

Legislation related to :

• education

• Housing

• Allowance

• Children’s act

When did the Consensus era happen ?

From 1951 to the mid-70s

What was the Post War Consensus ? And why was it made possible ?

• alternation of power between two parties : Conservative Party and Labour Party

• The late 50s were a period of booming economy

What is BUTSKELLISM ?

Term used to refer to :

• Rab BUTLER → Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer

• Hugh GAITSKELL → Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer

They agreed on :

• Broader distribution of wealth

• Strengthening social security

• Keynesian mixed economy

• Moderate state intervention

• Private propriety and individual initiative

Why did the consensus end towards the end of the 70s ?

Economic problems eroded the relation between Conservatives and Labour :

• low productivity

• High unemployment

• High inflation

• High state borrowing : IMF loan

• Increasing industrial action and strikes : global strike called “Winter Discontent”, 1978-79

What is Thatcherism ? When did it happen ?

• Thatcherism is the political ideology that came with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

• 1979 - 1997 : Leader of the Conservatives from 1974 to 1990 and Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, John Major ( 1990 to 1997 ) succeeded her and maintained her political ideology

What policies did the Conservatives implement during the Thatcher era ?

• reduction of welfare

• Self-help

• Individualism

• Monetarism

• Privatization

• Free enterprise

• Anti-unionism

• Anti-Europe

What is New Labour ? Who was its leader and when did it happen ?

• New Labour was a new ideology within the Labour Party that wanted to propose a “Third Way” that was neither left nor right but much more centrist. It appealed to supporters of Consensus and progressives

• Tony Blair led the party from 1997 to 2007 and Gordon Brown succeeded him until 2010

When did the Coalition happen and which parties were involved ?

From 2010 to 2015 : Coalition between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Coalition Deputy + Prime Minister

What policies did the Conservatives and Lib Dems implement during the Coalition ?

• austerity : reduction to budget deficit, cuts to public spendings…

• Increase of annual university tuition fees

• Reducing of immigration

• Introduction of fixed-term parliaments

What Party won the 2015 elections and remained in power ever since ?

The Conservatives won the election and since then 5 Prime Ministers have succeed each other :

• David Cameron ( 2010 - 2015 - 2016 )

• Theresa May ( 2016 - 2019 )

• Boris Johnson ( 2019 - 2022 )

• Liz Truss ( sept - oct 2022 )

• Rishi Sunak ( 2022 - )

What is Brexit ? When did it happen ?

• BREXIT : the UK leaving the European Union

• Referendum promised by David Cameron and held on 23 June 2016 → 48% REMAIN vs 52% LEAVE

• Brexit became effective on 1 January 2021

What are the 6 political periods that happened since WW2 ?

• Socialism ( 1945 - 1951 ) : Labour

• Consensus ( 1951 - mid 1970s ) : Labour and Conservatives

• Thatcherism ( 1979 - 1997 ) : Conservative

• New Labour ( 1997 - 2010 ) : Tony Blair’s Labour

• Coalition ( 2010 - 2015 ) : Conservatives and Liberal Democrats

• Conservatives ( 2015 - ) : Brexit era