CONSERVATIVES 1957 - 1964

CONSERVATIVES 1957 - 1964

1. Political +ve

   • Consensus.
   • Smooth end of empire.
   • 1960: "winds of change" speech = anti-apartheid.

2. Political -ve

   • 1963 De Gaulle = EEC veto / rejection.
     • UK described as "thin edge of US wedge."
   • 1962 Night of the Long Knives = 1/2 of cabinet sacked.
   • EFTA failure.
   • 1963 Profumo Affair.
   • 'Emerged' as PM.

3. Social +ve

   • Weakened class divisions.
   • Built more comprehensives than Labour.
   • 1957 Homicide Act.
   • Robbin's Report: 12 CATs became unis.
   • 1957: "never had it so good" speech.
   • 1.7 mil homes built = 300,000 / yr for a 'property owning democracy.'

4. Social -ve

   • 1962 Commonwealth Immigrations Act.
   • Salmon report: teddy boys, mods and rockers.
   • Beeching Report: 70,000 railway jobs lost.
   • Unemployment from 383,000 to 501,000.

5. Economic +ve

   • Availability of credit = mod cons e.g. car ownership 1.5 -> 5 million.
   • 20% wage increase.
   • Expansionist budgetary policy = consumer spending.

6. Economic -ve

   • 1964 £800 mil deficit.
   • Lowest GDP in Western Europe.
   • Stop Go economics and stagflation.
   • 1964 = 10% GDP (increase of £1.7mil) spent on defence.
   • 1957 Rent Act = increased costs.
   • £454 million debt to colonies.
   • Suez cost = £564 mil.