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Summary of Churchill's Government: 1951- 55
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A* level standard summary of Churchill's government between 1951- 55.
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Churchill’s government 1951- 55NICKNAME- ‘figurehead’, ‘war hero’
Chancellor of the Exchequer- Rab Butler
Deputy PM/ Foreign Secretary- Anthony Eden
Housing Minister- Harold Macmillan
Personality
Had a reputation for leading wartime Britain in the coalition government.
77 years old when he became Prime Minister for the second time.
Churchill was very old and ill, suffering a stroke in 1953 that was kept secret from the electorate.
He was an inactive Prime Minister, viewing himself as an international statesman rather than a Prime Minister.
This meant he spent more time abroad, meeting with world leaders or on holiday rather than in Downing Street.
His key priority was to help make sure that no new war broke out due to the development and obvious dangers of
nuclear weapons.
Churchill also believed to be above party politics as he was a member of the Liberal party before joining the
Conservatives in 1924. In 1950 he had attempted to persuade Liberals to join his cabinet but they had denied.
His absenteeism from being abroad OR travelling meant that a majority of his government was ran by his Deputy
Prime Minister Anthony Eden, his Chancellor of the Exchequer Rab Butler and his housing minister Harold
Macmillan.
There was tensions within Churchill’s government between Eden, Butler and Macmillan as they didn’t get on and
this was prevalent throughout the 13 years of Conservative dominance.
Eden was also impatient with Churchill as he waited for Churchill to step down- put a strain on relationships.
Achievements
1954 Rationing was ended.
Steel industry was denationalized.
Conservative party committed itself to building 300,000 new houses a year- SUCCESSFUL.
1954- 354,000 houses were built (Housing Minister= Harold Macmillan).
In 1952 Queen Elizabeth II brought in a new ‘Elizabethan age’.
1952 Britain detonated its first hydrogen bomb.
In 1953 the Korean War ended (1950- 53)
Advantages
1951- Churchill repaired the Anglo- American relations after the Burgees and Maclean affair- success (as an
international statesman and as a prime minister).
Was convinced in the need for government intervention in social and economic areas- “Big Government”
Party was more efficient after being reorganised under Lord Woolton.
Maintained the popular Welfare reforms introduced under Labour.
1952- Britain detonates their first nuclear bomb.
Age of affluence- growth in prosperity.
Wage rises 1951- £8.30 to £15.35 by 1961.
Mass construction of new housing- 354,000 houses by 1954.
1955- housing repairs and rent act.
1954- Mining and Quarries Act.
1954- Rationing ended.
Disadvantages
Very old, many people were starting to lose faith in him.
His ‘success’ in developing Britain’s first nuclear bomb caused concern among the left- wingers despite the
original programme being started under Attlee.
Aggressive handling of the 1952 Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya and the 1948- 60 Malaya Emergency.
Suffered a series of strokes when he was PM and majority of the public viewed him as “past his prime”.
Decided to maintain Gaitskell’s prescription charges which was a very unpopular policy among the Labour party
(caused divisions) as well as the electorate who did not want to pay for something that had initially been free.
1950- 53- Korean War.
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