Conservative dominance

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Why the Conservatives won the 1951 election?

INTRO: The Conservatives won the 1951 election with a majority of 26 seats and they stayed in office until 1964. The Labour Party gained 300,000 votes more, and so was not a huge defeat but the votes for the key seats swung to the Conservatives.

LABOUR WEAKNESSES: D.H.A.T

Did not do as well as in 1945. They won five seats which weakened morale.

Associated with Austerity and so forced to cut back on imported goods to encourage exports to maintain high taxation to ensure many goods as possible were exported.

Had problems at home and abroad. The Korean War of 1950 raised defence spending which put pressure on spending at home.

The defence spending caused cuts in the NHS and charges in glasses, prescriptions and dental care which caused Labour division.

CONSERVATIVE STRENGTHS: B.U.P.P.C

Better local organization and finance and campaigned strongly

united in opposition behind Labour nationalizing steel and Iron, unlike Labour who was divided.

Promise to build 300,000 houses were popular, while Labour failed to deal with the post war housing shortage

Promised freedom from rationing and regulations while keeping key popular elements like the welfare state and full employment policies

Churchill was still a popular figure and did not make may controversial speeches which helped them lose the 1945 election.

OTHER FACTORS: E.I.F.I.L. I.C.I.L

Electoral system failed to work in Labour's favour- won more individual seats but fewer than Conservatives

Important factor is decline in popularity of Liberal party in 1945 to 750,000 in 1951.

Former Liberal votes turned to the Conservatives- Labour associated with the growth of state, control of industry which Liberals disliked.

Impacted marginal Labour seats from the 1950 election- changes in the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies in 1948 tended to favour the Conservatives

Labour kept support in densely populated industrial areas but in suburban seats Conservatives did better

International factors- sympathy for socialism, admiration for planning and state control of the USSR.

Cold war in 1951 caused USSR to be seen as the enemy- controls and regulations under Labour meant that ideas of socialism and powerful state were less popular

led many to vote Conservatives

Labour- many achievements in 1945-51- divided and out of steam- new key figures in Conservatives that would be trusted to keep gains of the post-war period but to give people more freedom.

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Social changes and their impact on politics, 1951-64

British society changed considerably between 1951-64. Changes may help explain why the Conservatives were in office for so long and also why by 1964 the British voters felt that it was time for a change.

THE STANDARD OF LIVING

1950'S- period of relatively full employment. Unemployment rose to a peak for the 1950's- 500,000 in 1959.

Low by modern and inter-war period standards- more households had money to spend and a sense of stability.

This may have led people to vote for conservatives who seemed to be delivering prosperity

Level of real wages rose faster than prices- money wages rose faster than prices-people seemed to have more money and could buy more.

Greater prosperity made people live their lives differently in terms of social class.

more people able to afford their own homes-25 percent home owners in 1951- 44 percent in 1964.

more homes available as more houses were built- renting made easier by relaxation of controls 1957- increased social stability and reduced discontent- favoring party in power-the conservatives.

EDUCATION

Expansion of education- 6,000 more schools built

Grammar schools created by Butler Act 1944- gave greater chance to children whose parents could not afford private education

poorer children had chance to enter middle class occupations- improved education saw middle class expanded-benefited middle class voters who kept conservatives in office

Introduction of comprehensive education- ensured greater fairness and opportunities to school age children whom were disadvantaged by an examination which favored more middle classed families.

University education increased- state was generous to those going on to higher education and education policies won many votes

EXPECTATIONS

Growth of credit and affluence led to changes in what people expected compared with the harder world of 1920s and 30s.

Homes more comfortable and new domestic appliances made housework easier.

More diverse diet for many people-more foreign holidays than ever before-more cars and better roads than before

British society became more mobile- ambitions more likely recognized and Britain became more modern

Helped Conservatives to increase their support

YOUNG PEOPLE

Distinct teenage culture emerged- specific groups like the 'Teddy boys' and 'Mods and Rockers' increased gap between the generations

Responsive manufacturing section realised young people were consumers and music, clothing and entertainment produced for the younger market

1964- feeling that Britain was somehow a younger and vibrant society may have an impact on move away from Conservative leaders who were seen as 'old fashioned'

MULTI-CULTURAL BRITAIN

Influx of immigrants from West Indies and other parts of former empire had an impact on Britain and was to be one of the most significant elements of social change in British history.

1964-despite all social change that benefited British society and helped keep Conservatives in power- emergence of younger, less respectful, more affluent electorate led to a movement for more modernisation which Labour seemed to represent.