Conservative Domination 1951
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
, Chapter 4
Conservative Domination 1951-1964
Why did the Conservatives win the 1951 election?
ESSAY PLAN
Labour weaknesses
- They were associated with austerity, rationing and high taxes
- The Korean war had increased Britain's problems
- There were divisions between the left and right of the party: NHS, economic and foreign
policy were particularly hard to agree on
Conservative strengths
- Reorganised and recovered after 1945, with new, young charismatic politicians who were
helping to modernise the party
- Their promises exceeded those of Labour's, such as their pledge to build 300000 houses a
year, while Labour only had 200000 a year
- They campaigned for more red meat, a welcome change when it had been strictly rationed,
and were fully committed to the welfare state
- Winston Churchill was still a popular figure after the war and helped to boost votes
Electoral system
- The first past the post system meant that Labour needed more votes to win a seat than the
Conservatives due to boundary changes from the 1948 Representation of the People Act
whereby Labour piled up votes in safe seats but lost out in marginal seats
- Labour had to win 2% more of the popular vote than the Conservatives, so even though
Labour won 200000 more votes they win 26 fewer seats
- The Liberal party was declining and only contested 109 seats. Therefore ex-liberal voters
turned to the Conservatives as they were not prepared to vote for Labour
Lab weaknesses + Cons strengths = outcome.
Party Votes Seats % of votes
Conservatives 13,717, 538 321 48.0
Labour 13,948,605 295 48.8
Liberal 730,556 6 2.5
Other 198,969 3 0.7
Lab polled more votes than Cons but won fewer seats = 1st past the post system.
Liberals, performed badly (Liberal party only put up 109 candidates- drop of 366) –
financially stretched party in decline. = Helped Cons into power as many ex-Liberal
voters turned to Conservatives
Lab actually increased their popular vote by over 2 million since 1945 BUT Cons
gained over 4 million.
,Chapter 4
How important were Labour Weaknesses?
You could suggest Labour weakness what led to their defeat BUT their number of
votes in 1951, highest polled by a party in British politics… so not party in decline
But Lab gov. not as strong as it had been in early years… difficulties in dealing with
post-war economic and financial difficulties
Attlee gov exhausted after 6 difficult years in office. Worn down by economic
problems.
Nationalisation of iron and steel industry contentious
Divisions developing between right & left of party (e.g. Bevanite rebellion over paid
prescription charges, undermined principle that NHS should be free at the point of
treatment). Left-wing wing angered by entry into Korean War (following US in Cold
War) (+financial strain)
(Korean war: communist North Korea backed by Russia and China, invaded non-
communist South Korea in 1950. Resistance led by US dominated UN force but with
lots of British help. War lasted until 1953 when communist forces driven back to
same position they were in during 1950)
Associated with policies of austerity, rationing and high taxation, (which public
wanted to end)
Reduction of Lab majority to 5 in 1950 election —> encouraged MP’s to voice
concerns on economic and foreign policy —> further internal division within party
Cons had reorganised after 1945 defeat.
How important were Conservatives Strengths?
Reorganisation + recovery under Lord Woolton (party chairman) after shock of
1945 defeat. E.g. reformed finances and constituency organisation
Influx of bright young Tory MPs (e.g. Reginald Maudling) brought news ideas and
dynamism
Projected themselves as upholders of liberty and individuals (against
centralisation & collectivisation,…compared to Labour nationalising )
Accepted post-war consensus. Tories promised to maintain welfare state (incl.
NHS) and mixed economy
300k houses promised to be built a year (desired given housing shortage) . (Lab
had already built around 200k a year. )
Members paid £1 to join = £3 million members.
Churchill still well respected and ‘hero’, people wanted to thank him after war
(even though lost 1945 election)
How important was the Electoral System?
, Chapter 4
Nature of electoral system
First past the post system- majority of votes.
1945: Labour only needed 30,522 votes for each seat it won… but in 1951: needed
47,283
1945: Cons needed 46,892 …. But in 1951 less needed: 42,733
Lab got lot of votes in safe seats but Cons won many marginal Labour seats
Boundary changes brought about by 1948 Representation of the People Act
1948 Rep of the People Act- Lab needed to win 2% more of popular vote to win
same number of seats due to redistribution of seats. Meant that some seats became
marginal or redistribution simply increased number of votes they could win in
already safe seats.
Decline in the Liberal party
Decline in Lib party- vote fell from 2.6 million in 1945 —> 730,556 in 1951. Voters
turned to Cons. (helped them win Labour marginal seats)
How important was the Impact of the Cold War?
Language of politics changed.
Freedom vs. repression.
Opportunity and enterprise vs. planning.
Individualism vs. collectivism.
UK/USA attacked Stalin with language.
Cons adopted language – persuaded voters to reject Lab policies.
Why were the Conservatives able to dominate British politics for so long?
How important was the Economy?
Economic growth —> rise in living standards.
Given low level of industrial output after war some industrial growth was almost
inevitable.
Industrial growth stimulated increase in trade after Korean War= countries had more
money available to spend on goods not defence policy.
BUT… Britain’s growth rate not as much as other countries
GDP growth rates, 1951-64
Country % Growth
Italy 5.6
Germany 5.1
France 4.3
Britain 2.3
AND …
Britain’s share of world trade shrank from 25%-15%. = High cost to maintain military
bases + independent nuclear arms programme (defence expenditure = 10% of GDP).
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
, Chapter 4
Conservative Domination 1951-1964
Why did the Conservatives win the 1951 election?
ESSAY PLAN
Labour weaknesses
- They were associated with austerity, rationing and high taxes
- The Korean war had increased Britain's problems
- There were divisions between the left and right of the party: NHS, economic and foreign
policy were particularly hard to agree on
Conservative strengths
- Reorganised and recovered after 1945, with new, young charismatic politicians who were
helping to modernise the party
- Their promises exceeded those of Labour's, such as their pledge to build 300000 houses a
year, while Labour only had 200000 a year
- They campaigned for more red meat, a welcome change when it had been strictly rationed,
and were fully committed to the welfare state
- Winston Churchill was still a popular figure after the war and helped to boost votes
Electoral system
- The first past the post system meant that Labour needed more votes to win a seat than the
Conservatives due to boundary changes from the 1948 Representation of the People Act
whereby Labour piled up votes in safe seats but lost out in marginal seats
- Labour had to win 2% more of the popular vote than the Conservatives, so even though
Labour won 200000 more votes they win 26 fewer seats
- The Liberal party was declining and only contested 109 seats. Therefore ex-liberal voters
turned to the Conservatives as they were not prepared to vote for Labour
Lab weaknesses + Cons strengths = outcome.
Party Votes Seats % of votes
Conservatives 13,717, 538 321 48.0
Labour 13,948,605 295 48.8
Liberal 730,556 6 2.5
Other 198,969 3 0.7
Lab polled more votes than Cons but won fewer seats = 1st past the post system.
Liberals, performed badly (Liberal party only put up 109 candidates- drop of 366) –
financially stretched party in decline. = Helped Cons into power as many ex-Liberal
voters turned to Conservatives
Lab actually increased their popular vote by over 2 million since 1945 BUT Cons
gained over 4 million.
,Chapter 4
How important were Labour Weaknesses?
You could suggest Labour weakness what led to their defeat BUT their number of
votes in 1951, highest polled by a party in British politics… so not party in decline
But Lab gov. not as strong as it had been in early years… difficulties in dealing with
post-war economic and financial difficulties
Attlee gov exhausted after 6 difficult years in office. Worn down by economic
problems.
Nationalisation of iron and steel industry contentious
Divisions developing between right & left of party (e.g. Bevanite rebellion over paid
prescription charges, undermined principle that NHS should be free at the point of
treatment). Left-wing wing angered by entry into Korean War (following US in Cold
War) (+financial strain)
(Korean war: communist North Korea backed by Russia and China, invaded non-
communist South Korea in 1950. Resistance led by US dominated UN force but with
lots of British help. War lasted until 1953 when communist forces driven back to
same position they were in during 1950)
Associated with policies of austerity, rationing and high taxation, (which public
wanted to end)
Reduction of Lab majority to 5 in 1950 election —> encouraged MP’s to voice
concerns on economic and foreign policy —> further internal division within party
Cons had reorganised after 1945 defeat.
How important were Conservatives Strengths?
Reorganisation + recovery under Lord Woolton (party chairman) after shock of
1945 defeat. E.g. reformed finances and constituency organisation
Influx of bright young Tory MPs (e.g. Reginald Maudling) brought news ideas and
dynamism
Projected themselves as upholders of liberty and individuals (against
centralisation & collectivisation,…compared to Labour nationalising )
Accepted post-war consensus. Tories promised to maintain welfare state (incl.
NHS) and mixed economy
300k houses promised to be built a year (desired given housing shortage) . (Lab
had already built around 200k a year. )
Members paid £1 to join = £3 million members.
Churchill still well respected and ‘hero’, people wanted to thank him after war
(even though lost 1945 election)
How important was the Electoral System?
, Chapter 4
Nature of electoral system
First past the post system- majority of votes.
1945: Labour only needed 30,522 votes for each seat it won… but in 1951: needed
47,283
1945: Cons needed 46,892 …. But in 1951 less needed: 42,733
Lab got lot of votes in safe seats but Cons won many marginal Labour seats
Boundary changes brought about by 1948 Representation of the People Act
1948 Rep of the People Act- Lab needed to win 2% more of popular vote to win
same number of seats due to redistribution of seats. Meant that some seats became
marginal or redistribution simply increased number of votes they could win in
already safe seats.
Decline in the Liberal party
Decline in Lib party- vote fell from 2.6 million in 1945 —> 730,556 in 1951. Voters
turned to Cons. (helped them win Labour marginal seats)
How important was the Impact of the Cold War?
Language of politics changed.
Freedom vs. repression.
Opportunity and enterprise vs. planning.
Individualism vs. collectivism.
UK/USA attacked Stalin with language.
Cons adopted language – persuaded voters to reject Lab policies.
Why were the Conservatives able to dominate British politics for so long?
How important was the Economy?
Economic growth —> rise in living standards.
Given low level of industrial output after war some industrial growth was almost
inevitable.
Industrial growth stimulated increase in trade after Korean War= countries had more
money available to spend on goods not defence policy.
BUT… Britain’s growth rate not as much as other countries
GDP growth rates, 1951-64
Country % Growth
Italy 5.6
Germany 5.1
France 4.3
Britain 2.3
AND …
Britain’s share of world trade shrank from 25%-15%. = High cost to maintain military
bases + independent nuclear arms programme (defence expenditure = 10% of GDP).
