The affluent society: Britain 1951-64
Conservative governments
Internal labour party divisions
Conservative domestic policies
Reasons for Conservative's fall from power
Party divisions grew in the 50s.
Bevan and Gaitskell spilt the labour party when Gaitskell intorduced prescription charges and Bevan (architect of the NHS) resigned over this.
Labour narrowly lost the 1951 election, with 14 million votes for labour larger than any previous election so may believed labour would soon return to power.
The split grew when both Bevan and Gaitskell stood for Labour Party leadership in 1955. Gaitskell won.
In 1956, Frank Cousins became leader of the TGWU (Transport and general workers union). He led fierce opposition against Bevan over nuclear weapons.
Bevan initially opposed Britain developing nuclear weapons but in 1957 changed his mind. Many of the labour left joined the CND.
After 1960, Labour's political position improved and Gaitskell's death in 1963 opened the way for Harold Wilson to become leader.
Macmillan's reshuffling of his cabinet in july 1962 appeared clumsy as he sacked 1/3 of it.
Macmillan's marriage into the aristocracy made him appear out of touch.
By the early 60s there was growing concerns over the economy.
The 1963 Profumo affair, highlighted the lies within government.
October 1963, Macmillan resigned due to poor health which caused a power struggle in the party between Rab Butler and Lord Hailsham. To compromise Lord Home emerged as leader.
Education: The 3 types of schools continued, grammar technical and secondary modern. Under Eden there was more investment in technical education as there were few under Churchill. By the early 60s some people questioned if the system was fair.
Social reforms: Many social reforms under Macmillan such as the 1956 Clean Air Act which aimed to prevent smog and the 1957 Wolfenden Comission recommended that Homesexuality should not be a crime.
Housing: The 1951 conservative manifesto promised to build 300,000 houses a year to rebuild housing destroyed in the war and replace the slums form before the war.
Eden was PM 1955 to 1957. There were initial high hopes but his lack of experience in domestic affairs became clear and he never recovered from the 1956 Suez crisis, resigning in 1957 over 'bad health'.
Macmillan was PM 1957 to 1963. He was initially well liked and the post war boom continued. He called for a 1959 general election and won comfortably.
In the 1951 general election, Labour actually own more votes than the conservatives but the first-past-the-post- electoral system meant the the conservative won the most seats.
Churchill was PM again 1951 to 1955, thanks o his reputation as a wartime hero. However, he was very old and fairly inactive, often on holiday. His main priority was ensuring no new conflict, aiming to work with trade unions.