AS History revision Britain 1951 - 1997
- Created by: Clem_co
- Created on: 01-02-17 17:56
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Conservative Domination (1951-64)
reasons why conservatives won the 1951 general election
1) Labour weaknesses:
- post war issues had exhasurted the labour party
- assocated with policies of austerity (difficult economic conditions created to reduce public expenditure) ,rationing and taxation were all associated with labour - which the public hated
- labour had taked GB intro the korean war (1950) which caused a financial strain
- the labour party had internal division over issues such as : if NHS should free, charges for dentals usrgeries,glasses & perscription
2) Conservative strengthens:
- reorganisation of the party
- lord woolton reformed party finances and local organisation
- influx of young politicians who bought new ideas and dynamics
- promised to build 300,000 houses a year and give people more red meat
- promised not to reverse labour achievement and were fully commited to the welfare state
3) electoral system
- labour needed 47,283 seats to each seat whereas conservatives had declined and olny needed 42,733
- they obtained votes in state seats but the torys won many of the marginal labour seats
- boundy changes : labour had to 2% move of popular votes to win same numer of seats as
- decline of liberal party meant many voters turned troy
- number of voters in 1951 were highest in british history, but fisrt - past - the -post system meant conservatives won
why were the conservatives able to dominate for so long
1) Economy
- indutrial growth was inevitasble after the war
- after the korean war, countries had more money to speed on goods rather defence policy
- living standards rising was considered the most important
wages and living standards
- wages rose faster than prices: 1951 = £8.30 - 1964 = £18.35 therefore people had more spending money
- chancellors were able to cut income tax before both elcetions
- 500% increase in ownership
- Tv ownership went from 4% to 9%
Credit
- people were able to borrow money and make small monthly payments
- purchase items that were out of reach before
Housing
- conservatives kept their promise of building 30,000 more houses a year were bulit which meant the waiting list went down
Rent Act was abolished…
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