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Reasons for election wins,
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Detailed notes on reasons for election win, for depth-study (History of Modern Britain, ) A-Level History
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Reasons for election wins, 1951-19971951 - Conservative - PM = Winston Churchill
1945-51 : Labour gain extra 2 million votes, Conservatives - nearly 4 million
But still not immediately obvious that there would be a long period of Conservative dominance
Labour actually won more votes - 14 million (larger than any of Labour’s previous election
victories)
Conservatives only have a 17 seat majority
Many Labour activists believed they would soon return to power
But :
Attlee ageing and often in poor health
Growing split in the Labour party, both in ideology and in personalities
1951 - Bevanite rebellion
Heavy economic and financial difficulties, inc. wartime debts, BoP crisis, declining exports,
defence expenditure, etc.
Government exhausted after 6 years in office
Found it difficult to shake off its image as party of rationing and high taxation
Called for austerity which they claimed the party demanded → not attractive to the electorate
They had rationed essential items, introduced financial controls, introduced wage freezes and
devalued the £
1950 election saw influx of bright young Conservative MPs, e.g. Butler → brought new ideas
and confidence to the party
Conservatives seen as the ‘natural party of government’
Liberal Party’s decisión to put up only 109 candidates, a drop of 366 compared with 1950.
The nearly 2 million ex-Liberal votes went largely to the Conservatives
1955 - Conservative - PM = Anthony Eden
Healthy majority - 68 seats; 49.7% of the vote - 60 seat majority
Why did they win?
Butler boosted election prospects with a ‘give-away’ budget that provided the middle class
with £134 million in tax cuts
Affluence : ‘feel good factor’; most voters happy with their rising living standards
Eden called the election immediately after Churchill retired - relaxed and low key and gave
Eden the chance to get a mandate to govern before the electorate could judge him on actual
performance as PM
Support of national press and media
Continued splits within Labour - conflict between Gaitskellites & Bevanites from 1951
continued to cause trauma
→ Not a crushing defeat for Labour - still obtain 46.4% of the vote
1959 - Conservative - PM = Harold Macmillan
, 100 seat majority; 49.7% of the vote (Labour vote goes down from 46.4% to 43.8%)
Reasons for success of Macmillan
Macmillan had opposed Suez. Restored party unity without lasting splits. Eden disappeared
Economic prosperity continued to gain voter approval - continuing affluence keeps voters
happy
Reputation - nicknamed ‘Supermac’; success as housing minister (300,000 new homes as
promised during 1951 election manifesto)
Divisions under Gaitskell
Macmillan = safe choice
Post war economic boom continuing; confidence in government
Labour party increasingly concerned with internal battles - ineffective opposition + left of the
party want nationalisation, abandonment of deterrent, etc. - unpopular with voters
Media supportive - used TV with flair
Pwc politician
Competent cabinet members (Butler, MacLeod, Boyle) - capable & efficient; in tune with
political opinión
1964 - Labour - PM = Harold Wilson
4 seat majority; 44.1% of votes (compared with 43.4% of votes for Conservatives)
Run of scandals and ‘events’ 1962-3, e.g. Vassall affair (1962), spy scandals, Night of the
Long Knives (1962), Profumo (1963)
NLK intended to rejuvenate the cabinet but actually weakened it > Macmillan appeared
clumsy and out of touch
Profumo Affair → personal disaster for Macmillan. Given sensational treatment by the press.
Reinforced image of Macmillan as old and out of touch
Government embarrassed by French rejection of EEC application
Sense of growing impatience with the old ‘Establishment’ and desire for generational change
> showed through Private Eye and That Was The Week That Was → ADH was a lord
Wilson = strong campaigner - confident in dealing with media
Bevan & Gaitskell dead; split over
Labour election slogan - ‘Thirteen years of Tory misrule’ played on public mood
Conservatives appear to be trapped in a bygone era > sharp contrast with Wilson and his
promises to take Britain into the ‘White heat of technology’
1966 - Labour - PM = Harold Wilson
Labour - 48% of vote; 98 seat majority
Conservatives - 42%
Heath no match for Wilson; Wilson = experienced campaigner
Unable to connect with voters
More in tune with popular culture and society
Had created dept of technology and strengthened science and education - 7 new unis by
1966
Scientists employed as gov advisors
Liberalisation laws under Jenkins - Race Relations Act, capital punishment abolished, etc.
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