why did labour lose the 1951 election

Having been given such a considerable mandate to rebuild the country in 1945, the Attlee post-war government lost popular support considerably over the next six years. however we spent the time on social reform. Labour's achievements, or rather what they did not achieve, can be linked as to why they lost: they had arguably successfully set up a welfare state but had also induced an economic crisis. Overall, it was the first-past-the-post system that won Labour their 'landslide' victory in 1945 and in 1951 allowed the Conservatives to win despite polling less votes. Evidently, the Conservatives were punished in 1945, when they were lucky to not have been in 1935 and, arguably, if elections had taken place in 1940, Labour may have won. While the more right-wing Gaitsgillites wanted more concentration on an aggressive foreign policy on issues like the cold war. There was nothing like the self-destructive trade union protests and strikes of the 1979 'Winter of . Cost of Living KOREAN WAR Austerity LINK TO COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE - cost of heating, clothing, education and food (and other necessities) was increasing; dissatisfaction amongst the people - defense spending increased whilst public spending decreased; led to NHS prescription charges What seems stingingly ironic is that in 1951 the Labour party actually received the largest percentage of the vote than any other party had in Britain's history and still lost the election. Activision's Spycraft: The Great Game is the product of a very specific era of computer gaming, when "multimedia" and "interactive movies" were among the buzzwords of the zeitgeist. Americas way of The 1918 constitution that eventually emerged was a curious mix, unmatched on the continent: theoretically socialist in its commitment to public ownership via the 'old' Clause IV, but in reality gradualist, 'labourist' and in huge debt to the more conservative trade union movement. Yet, despite this they won 26 more seats than Labour, this seems somewhat disproportionate and illogical and can once again be traced back to the first-past-the-post system. This led to complacency with Labour relying too heavily on support from voters who felt betrayed. As he struggled to justify his November emergency budget tightening spending and committing to an exchange rate policy subservient to US demands, Dalton resigned as Chancellor. Labour's achievements, or rather what they did not achieve, can be linked as to why they lost: they had arguably successfully set up a welfare state but had also induced an economic crisis. 'Iron Curtain' and the years, Once lend lease had ended in 1945 (end of After the shock of the 1945 election, Labour appointed Lord Woolton as their party chairman: he was central to the revitalisation of the Conservatives and reorganised the conservative party effectively. So, at the 1950 election there was a 2. Beveridge aimed to create a minimum standard of living and full employment and believed the five evils blocking these aims and reconstruction were: Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness. Instead, this 1947 balance of payments crisis compounded by the fuel shortage and the convertibility clause forced Labour to rein in spending. system, Alongside the abolishment of 1 He belonged to the first intake of students at the Ecole polytechnique in 1794 and went on to become an iron engineer. However, the electorate did not empathise with this view, many now believing that the Conservatives were a more trustworthy option. Postal voting also For me, the Attlee government(s) of 1945 - 51, achieved a huge amount, much of which we can still see and experience today, and which we sh. until after the election on the grounds of "morality" which was the Chamberlain's actions before the war had indeed lost the Conservatives much respect and had made them look weak to many people who saw Labour as the only reliable alternative. Post author: Post published: June 8, 2022; Post category: new construction duplex for sale florida; Post comments: . The pre-war period was significant because, during the war, it was reinterpreted. 1950 Surplus 297 million fell to favoured Essay on why Labour failed to renew itself after it fulfilled its 1945 manifesto Churchill however made a gross error in saying that Labour would need a Gestapo like organisation to enforce socialism upon Britain. The 'Falklands factor' could not be clearer from opinion polls. We provide reliable homework help online and custom college essay service. To the most left-wing Labour MPs and enthusiasts, this was a betrayal of socialist solidarity; on the other hand, to many more involved with the party this represented subservience to US demands. Labour lost the election to the party whose ideas it was preaching. Furthermore, an apparently humiliating trade policy including subservience to US demands was particularly discrediting in the eyes of post-colonialists who identified this as betrayal rather than pragmatism. Although progress was initially slow on this front, one million houses were eventually built and the housing problem was eased for a while. The election was held on Thursday 23 February 1950, and was the first held following the abolition of plural voting and university constituencies. Attlee's reputation rose during the 1945 electoral campaign. Appeasement wasn't, at the time, a hugely contentious issue however after the war many people believed this was a large reason for the war and the Conservatives were blamed. Conservative opposition fell off quickly, however, when the popularity of the NHS became increasingly apparent following its inception in 1946. Its formation was the result of many years of struggle by working class people, trade unionists and socialists, united by the goal of working class voices represented in British Parliament. so much about economics, Following Cripps resignation on grounds of ill health, Hugh Gaitskell took over as Chancellor during Attlees second government. Why did the Conservatives win/ Labour lose the 1951 UK general election? Just over a year later, with the Labour government in deep internal crisis and running out of steam, yet another election was called. opportunity for the other Conservative For many voters and MPs, the buck stops with the Labour leader. um is there something wrong in these notes? Attlee was aware that these changes to the voting system may Technicalities. 9% swing against Labour. rather than 0% In addition, after the Korean War broke out in 1950, Britain decided to rearm. Firstly, the party enacted most of its initial 1945 manifesto pledges in establishing the NHS, founding the Welfare State, and building one million new homes. Just by losing a core of middle class voters, Labour lost a great many marginal contests and most particularly in the well-to-do constituencies of southern and south-eastern England. excessive class orientated This large Parliamentary shift, in the face of an unremarkable swing in the popular vote, can be attributed partly to Labours loss of the middle class vote. Although progress was initially slow on this front, one million houses were eventually built and the housing problem was eased for a while. These party reforms and the reorganisation proved worthwhile, as can be seen in the 8% boost in votes. Both clearly agree that the pre-war period was significant, however they differ on why it was significant. positive light, Presented themselves as a united As Labour struggled to legislate effectively, and following another badly-handled balance of payments crisis in the summer of 1951, Attlee dissolved Parliament in September and Labour subsequently lost - albeit narrowly - the October election. The election result was a disaster for Labour. With an inadequate sense of self-renewal, the Attlee era party had little further to put before voters after 1947. Pearce's reinterpretation argument makes the most sense because policies like appeasement were relatively popular at the time. Evidently, the Conservatives were punished in 1945, when they were lucky to not have been in 1935 and, arguably, if elections had taken place in 1940, Labour may have won. Morisson, the Deputy Prime Minister, believed that. The Bevanites, being more left-wing, wanted to focus Britains resources on further nationalisation of industry. electricity-1948 Under Michael Foot, it suffered a landslide defeat, taking just 27.6% of the vote and giving Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives. In addition, Morrison became Home Secretary and Bevin Minister of Labour and National Service. These reforms had a deep effect on Britain, however the electorate evidently felt not enough was done to fulfil the promises of a near utopian post-war Britain. A defeated conservative MP at the time, Macmillan, claimed that It was not Churchill who lost the 1945 election, it was the ghost of Neville Chamberlain. In this respect, although Labout lost the 1951 election, it can be claimed that they only marginally lost popular support meaning, in my opinion, the most significant factor contributing to their loss was the mistiming of the election. Labour's campaign, although not crucial to their success, was better organised, funded and planned than the Conservatives' and, as such, made Labour look strong - in contrast with the Conservatives. (45 Marks) The 3rd May 1979 saw the greatest parliamentary swing since the war, with the Conservative Party polling 43.9% of the vote; thereby winning 339 seats (up 62 since the last election). Homefront experiences had also caused a rise in support for Labour: evacuees educated many people to the realities of poverty in Britain's cities and the Blitz brought people together in communal bomb shelters and broke down social barriers. Why did Harold Wilson win the 1964 Election. In 1945 the Conservatives had suffered from being divided and disorganised, while Labour had been strong and united. called for The poor timing of the 1951 election can also be claimed to have weakened Labours position. Labour to the Conservatives - was enough to tip Labour out of office in the general election held in October 1951. Atlee used this as an opportunity to emphasise that although Churchill was a great wartime leader he was not such a good domestic politician. The war had played a crucial role in Labours 1945 victory, by bringing them into the public eye - they were left effectively to their own devices to rule the homefront as Churchill struggled on with the war effort. Conservative pre-war blunders played a key role in Labour's victory due to the electorate remembering these mistakes. His subsequent retirement from the party therefore revealed that Labour was divided in its views and ultimately undermined its unity, providing a poor image to potential voters. The Blitz also, more obviously, caused a huge rise in support for Labour's housing development plans. administration (up to 'I think we've got 20 years of power ahead of us,' mused the newly-elected Labour MP for Smethwick. Each party's history had a role in both 1951 and 45, the conservative led National Government of the 1930s were blamed for the depression, appeasement and delayed rearmament in 1945. 1.5 billion from Canada How valid is this view in relation to the 1951 general election? 1951 General Election Why did the Conservatives win the 1951 General Election? WW2) needed loans to sustain economy, Keynes 1945 secures In 1951, Labour was pilling on votes in seats they had already won, while the Conservatives won narrow victories. Food subsidies were sustained in order to negate inflation in living costs; levels of progressive taxation were preserved; regional development was the favoured way to control mass unemployment in the areas of urban industrial decline; nationalisation was seen as the solution in reviving core industries such as mining, which had been faltering in private hands. However, in 1950, Labour won by a tiny majority of 5 seats and in 1951 the Conservatives won by a majority of 17. In the summer of 1950, the Korean War broke out. Although there was some tangible degree of divisions within the party over the banality and unradical approach, with many backbenchers urging a return to the early zealousness for national change, it was not this issue which harmed the party most. Little did Provow know at the time, but "Castle Bravo" and the five other tests he witnessed would have a direct effect on his health and the health of his friends he was serving on the . This divided party had stood no chance against the organised, well-funded Conservatives. The electorate clearly did not see it this way though, believing that the Labour party had lied to them, this feeling of betrayal saw many voters return to the reliable Conservatives in the 1951 election. The need for a better post war Britain was felt amongst all classes and Labour's support of the Beveridge Report brought widespread support. Extremely cold weather met with insufficient stockpiles of coal, and much industry ground to a halt as a result. Churchill however made a gross error in saying that Labour would need a Gestapo like organisation to enforce socialism upon Britain. future plans, Budget of 1951 heavily criticised by Just over a year later, with the Labour government in deep crisis about a number of ill-conceived policies, yet another election was called. time of economic downfall- seen to be short lived as by 1952 the The Conservative victory in 1951 is typically attributed either to the failures of Attlee's government - devaluation, the Bevanite revolt - or to the achievements of Churchill's opposition, including Lord Woolton's reforms and the acceptance of the "post-war consensus". Dunkirk triggered many people to blame the conservatives and their previous leaders for appeasement. Dunkirk triggered many people to blame the conservatives and their previous leaders for appeasement. Named Let Us Face the Future, it emphasised that Labour were the only party that could be trusted to deliver a strong Britain and Beveridge's plans. Indeed, after signing the Munich Agreement, Chamberlain was heralded as a hero: 'saving' the country from another bloody war. Whilst in 1951 the Labour government was punished for its unrealistic promises made in 1945. This aim was ill-fated and in the eyes of many economists , obviously exceeded the country's economic capacity, . Mind Map on Why did Labour lose the 1951 election?, created by alinam on 05/24/2015. America sought the support of her allies in fighting the North Korean communists, and Britain committed troops to assist her. As the Labour Party emerged to replace the Liberal Party in the 1920s, G.D.H. Then, as the Cripps years failed to bring an end to food scarcities and food queues, Labours perceived impact upon the national way of life was minimal to voters in the most crucial swinging constituencies. You need to log in to complete this action! Best Answer Copy Labour lost to various reasons, the main ones being: The Winter of Discontent, the miscalculations that James Callaghan made and the appeal of Thatcher to voters. Morrison, was moved to minister of employment, Proposed introduction of Here you can order essay online, research paper help, assignment writing, technical writing, help with lab reports and case studies. By 1947, more than one fifth of British industry had been drawn into public ownership. The question as to why Labour won the 1945 election has been the source of much in depth study since the period. Never before had the party achieved an overall majority in the House of Commons, and yet now Labour had a huge parliamentary majority of 146 seats. One of the major issues Labour had to face was how to rebuild Britain following the end of the Second World War, it also had to face the decolonisation of the British Empire and the loss of key figures within the party due to age and illness by 1951. Paul Addison, however, argues that the campaign was important because Attlee's reputation rose during the 1945 electoral campaign. 1946/47 winter which had dire food/ fuel 20thcentury British politics had been dominated by the conservatives, and Labour had never formed a workable majority before 1945. 3.7 billion loans US & Although Labours promises had brought about hopes and expectations that were simply unachievable, whilst in government Labour had brought about serious change and a number of reforms. leadership remembered in a however not the 6 Developments during the war made a considerable contribution towards the shift to the left, with more support for collectivism and rationing. They had beaten the Conservatives by a clear 8% however in 51 they only had a 0.8% lead on the votes, as to why they didn't win after getting more votes one has to examine the first past the post system. In opposition to the Conservative Party, it has been the major democratic socialist party in Britain since the early 20th century. Conservative pre-war blunders played a key role in Labour's victory due to the electorate remembering these mistakes. '51 was an attempt that backfired to increase the labour majority - but in reality they only lost 22 seats in that election. While Labour managed to retain much working class support largely because of the role class identification was playing in determining partisan support at this time the middle class had quickly become disaffected. legislation, Commitment to full employment and a mixed economy, Said to focus upon its previous Clement Attlee was leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955, and served as Britain's Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. It called for a reelection the next year. While Labour managed to retain much working class support largely because of the role class identification was playing in determining partisan support at this time the middle class had quickly become disaffected. Labour's manifesto was based around the Beveridge report and the Nationalisation of industries, ideas that had been tested during the war and were found to work. The Labour Party was born at the turn of the 20th . second - 1986. Explanation: This people's war was very beneficial to Labour in warming people to socialist ideologies, and their belief on the war being not just a fight against the fascist Germany, but a struggle for a prosperous post-war Britain was welcomed by the electorate. Rather, the balance of payments problem forced the non-idealists within the leadership to face the necessary curtailing of public spending. George Washington Bridgeopened in 1931.Two lanes were added in 1946, and a lower deck added in 1962. The split ran deep within the Labour party and consequently it was deeply weakened, so when it came to the 1951 election, Labour found it much harder to fight against the now united Conservatives who had been re-organisation under a new leader. However Pearce concludes that. Assess the Validity of This View. The 1946 National Health Service Act provided free access to a range of hospital and general practitioner services across the country. e Bevanites and the Gaitsgillites. higher percentage of votes Mr Churchill's Declaration of Policy to the Electorate. Within the Cabinet, Gaitskells decision to expand the defence budget at the expense of domestic spending enraged health minister Nye Bevan in particular, who resigned as a response to the Korean deployment. In February 1957, Labour won the seat of North Lewisham in what was their first by-election gain from the Tories in almost twenty years. social reform and nationalisation. support for the party. Labour's promises of social reforms won them many votes, however it was these promises which led to their failure in 1951, when many people believed that the promises hadn't been delivered. how the radical Labour large amounts in payouts, Labours 1950 manifest included Secondly, the split right at the very top of the party meant that organisational preparations for upcoming elections were hampered, and the electoral machine was disarmed. In fact, Dennis Shanahan wrote in The Australian: Morrison didn't just beat Labor in this election. 1950-1951 labelled as an UNHAPPY PARLIAMENT Labour majority reduces to just 7 seats 1950 By changing the timing of the election to be in 1951 rather than spring of 52' due to the Kings tour of Australia it hit the party at a time of economic downfall- seen to be short lived as by 1952 the 419 million defecit was yet again in the surplus Ministers The campaign is all too often seen as the most important factor in Labour's landslide victory in 1945, however it is of less importance than the war or their policies, for example. Gaitskell 1950, Bevan failed to accept compromised proposed by A TSR George 17 I got all the reasons.but looking at the figures conservative had 13.7mil votes and labour got 13.9mil. Outcome. But Labour didn't lose in 1983 because it was too left wing; rather, Thatcher won because of the Falklands War. They had beaten the Conservatives by a clear 8% however in 51 they only had a 0.8% lead on the votes, as to why they didn't win after getting more votes one has to examine the first past the post system. Conservatives 290, 1950-51 Labour were in office Lord Woolton was also key in the reformation of the party; holding membership dirves, propaganda campaigns and obtaining donations from bug businesses who were threatened by Labours nationalisation. Britains economic resources were being drained from all directions; Foreign Policy, Nationalisation, Welfare and Austerity. 1. Since 2015, the problem of electoral 'bias' means Westminster's voting system has advantaged the Conservatives. Finally, splits over the Korean War both over the political justifications for British deployment, and over the cuts in public spending domestically brought about splits in the party which made it poorly placed to fight the 1951 election. The result of the election caused much surprise. The very honesty and simplicity of the campaign helped enormously. The popularity of the 1942 Beveridge Report, which laid much of the groundwork for the establishment of the NHS and the Welfare State, was an endorsement of Labour politics. socialist the party Labours answer focused on working class interests. 419 million defecit was yet again in the surplus, Disagreements over The party had achieved many of the reforms put forward in their 1945 manifesto, most noteably the implementation of the welfare state, and now lacked new policy ideas.

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