Nowhere was there any challenge to the basic Tory idea that workers should pay the price for the economic crisis, and if they refused, their basic rights should be attacked. This type of system naturally leads one to question the truth behind calling the Labour victory a landslide. Why was Churchhill re-elected in the 1951 election? The election result was a disaster for Labour. Why did the Conservatives win elections from 1951-64 1945-1951 The 1951 General Election Labour had made so many promises before the 1945 election that peoples hopes were set too high, many felt that Labour failed to deliver. Gaitskell adopted a similarly pragmatic approach to Britains budgetary problems and kept typically socialist long-term economic planning to a minimum. 'Labour Lost the 1979 Uk General Election Due to the Strength of the Conservative Opposition'. 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. Ten reasons Labor lost the unlosable election Firstly, the Parliamentary party was split in its loyalties to the party leadership, and cohesion within the legislature was less assured. Following Cripps resignation on grounds of ill health, Hugh Gaitskell took over as Chancellor during Attlees second government. Attlee was aware that these changes to the voting system may He beat the Zeitgeist, the vibe and the emotional appeals while leaving Clive Palmer and the Greens failing to live up to expectations. Indeed, Robert Pearce claims it seems very unlikely indeed that the campaign was crucial, Paul Addison, however, argues that the campaign was important because . This led to complacency with Labour relying too heavily on support from voters who felt betrayed. Conservative opposition fell off quickly, however, when the popularity of the NHS became increasingly apparent following its inception in 1946. Chicago's bitter election is now a nasty runoff Aged - many were in 60s The Iron and coal industries were not profitable In 1951 Labour attained 48.8% of the vote, and the Conservatives only got 48% of the vote. By 1951, there were already heavy pressures on health spending. members, Alongside this was the memory from Then, in the summer of 1947, problems arose with the US war loan to be paid to the British government, in the form of the convertibility clause. The outcome was widely credited to the deft materialism of Harold Macmillan, and the slogan `You've never had it so good', which the Conservatives, in fact, did not use. CONSERVATISM, The industrial charter of 1947 & This Is It was not Churchill who lost the 1945 election, it was the ghost of Neville Chamberlain. accepting the ideas of NHS and that People had lost trust in the conservatives and blamed them for Britains military short-comings, and this was important for Labours rise in support. Arguments within the labour party. This rule was ended in 1964 by Harold Wilson's reunited Labour party. This is especially so when one considers the crises they faced in that year, making the 1945 blue-skies, New Jerusalem thinking incredibly difficult to sustain. 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 1951 election ended the post-war Labour governments, put Labour into opposition for 13 years and marked the start of a decade of bitter internecine warfare in the party. Majority of party regards to labours achievements - 200,000 homes built a WW2) needed loans to sustain economy, Keynes 1945 secures The results of the 1945 general election exceeded the hopes of the most fervent Labour supporter. socialist the party The new Chancellor Sir Stafford Cripps expected of the country an austere realism which entailed the retention of rationing. In the 1992 election 11.5 million people voted Labour. reduces to just 7 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. Why did Labour lose 1951? - Quora Iron and steel nationalisation Gaitskell adopted a similarly pragmatic approach to Britains budgetary problems and kept typically socialist long-term economic planning to a minimum. of cold war era), Violence broke out in India and Paliastine during decolonisation, Sectarian violence - Violence disadvantage the Labour party however he did not postposne them Rather, the balance of payments problem forced the non-idealists within the leadership to face the necessary curtailing of public spending. WW2 obviously played a large role in the results of both the 1945 and 1951 elections, in 1945 its effects were clear on the homefront as it had acted as a catalyst to socialist ideas and in 1951 it was the economic turmoil that the war had triggered which led to many people to vote for the reliable conservatives. A defeated conservative MP at the time, Macmillan, claimed that . Gaitskell and Morrison (Deputy Prime Minister) both doubted whether Labour would be able to defeat the Conservatives in 1951, owing to their loss of seats in the 1950 election. How Did The Petrov Affair Affect Australia | ipl.org Hi there, would you like to get such a paper? By 1947, more than one fifth of British industry had been drawn into public ownership. Churchill however made a gross error in saying that Labour would need a Gestapo like organisation to enforce socialism upon Britain. Between 1948 and the election year 1950, Labour was committed to a period of tighter spending and more austere demands placed upon citizens. History-UK-BK1-Labour-1951 election. Labour - 295 seats, Conservatives - 321 seats, Liberals - 6 seats In 1951 the Liberals put up 109 candidates, in 1945 they had put up 475. In 1951 Winston Churchill's Conservative party, won the general election, and this would be the start of 13 years of Conservative rule pning three prime ministers. positive light, Presented themselves as a united Conservative pre-war blunders played a key role in Labour's victory due to the electorate remembering these mistakes. The year 1947 brought an abrupt end to the honeymoon, as the government was forced to shift focus from massive reform to crisis management in response to fuel and trade shortages. - NEW Although it did help to achieve this end, Churchills party was able to lament publicly the humiliation the government had brought upon the British currency, and at the same time place blame on the government for the continuing food scarcities and long queues. Extremely cold weather met with insufficient stockpiles of coal, and much industry ground to a halt as a result. I feel as though Ive spent days aimlessly searching the internet for a clear answer to this question. Positions like these allowed the Labour MPs to prove that they were, in fact, very skilled and also gave them invaluable experience. Although it did help to achieve this end, Churchills party was able to lament publicly the humiliation the government had brought upon the British currency, and at the same time place blame on the government for the continuing food scarcities and long queues. As Prime Minister, he enlarged and improved social services and the public sector in post-war Britain, creating the National Health Service and nationalising major industries and public utilities. The Conservative Party made some political headway by attacking the governments credentials with regard to the 1948 devaluation of the pound, which was designed to bring about the much needed rise in exports. This is especially so when one considers the crises they faced in that year, making the 1945 blue-skies, New Jerusalem thinking incredibly difficult to sustain. This split caused to distinct groups to form within Labour; the Bevanites and the Gaitsgillites. In 1951, Labour was pilling on votes in seats they had already won, while the Conservatives won narrow victories. This was at a time when the economy could least handle it, and Labour was blamed by a weary public in 1951. In October 2004 Blair announced that he would seek a third term as prime minister but would not stand for a fourth term. In his budget, the Chancellor, Hugh Gaitskell, sought to balance his budget by imposing charges on false teeth and spectacles. Labour argued that they had earned their independence by fighting in WW2, and that it was not economically viable to sustain them. leadership remembered in a Answer (1 of 11): There are books and other commentaries, opinions (web searches will reveal them) that explore this in detail, but here is a personal take. 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. The Conservatives were back in power once more, but they did little to. Also the Conservatives were much better funded in 1951, by business men afraid of further nationalisation the only major labour reform that the Conservatives dared to take a firm stance against. 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. It called for a reelection the next year. large amounts in payouts, Labours 1950 manifest included Understandably, the architect and far left member of the party, Bevan, was enraged at this suggestion. The war had undoubtedly played a major role in the elections, being seen as a people's war it broke down social boundaries and caused a shift to the left. On a high turnout Labour's tally of votes had actually increased in absolute terms (to 13.9 million, compared to 13.2 million in the 1950 cent) than the Conservatives, though the Conservatives came out ahead in seats, America sought the support of her allies in fighting the North Korean communists, and Britain committed troops to assist her. The dynamic nature of our site means that Javascript must be enabled to function properly. In 1945 the Conservatives had suffered from being divided and disorganised, while Labour had been strong and united. Labour had 13, 948, 605 votes Conservatives had 13, 717, 538 votes Liberals had 730, 556 votes Why did the Conservatives win if Labour had more votes? Although this was not much in terms of the popular vote, Labour lost 78 seats and the Conservatives gained 101; Labour were left with a majority of just five seats. 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". 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. Why Was There a Consensus British Prime Ministers 1951-1964 'Oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them'. Morisson, the Deputy Prime Minister, believed that The very honesty and simplicity of the campaign helped enormously. Sterling crisis 1966, devaluation 1967, tax rises, public spending cuts and rejection of the EEC application 1963. Their living standards had not radically altered since 1945, and the significance of many of these voters is that they voted in marginal constituencies. Postal voting also However, Attlee wanted to resolve the political uncertainty in Britain befre the Kings scheduled six-month tour of the Commonwealth, and so the election was scheduled for 1951, putting them in a disadvantaged position. Thus, it may have 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. 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. While ill health may have played its part in weakening the Labour party, the lack of enthusiasm put into manifesto commintments was by far more significant. Both clearly agree that the pre-war period was significant, however they differ on why it was significant. While this gave them a temporary boost in the polls, it did nothing but hinder them in the long term. There are three main sub-categories for this answer; the Conservatives strengths, Labours weaknesses/ limitations, and uncontrollable factors. 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. So, at the 1950 election there was a 2. The 1945-1946 period of Labour government sought to address some key difficulties facing the nation following World War II. Why Did the Labour Government Suffer an Unexpected | Studymode Bevin's speech 1948 where he referred to Then, the second ministry saw a fractious Parliamentary party being further divided over the Korean War and the advancement of the National Health Service, leading up to a comfortable Tory win in the October 1951 election. Why Did Labour Lose Power in 1951 | PDF | Labour Party (Uk - Scribd Why did Labour win the 1945 election and lose in the 1951 election? 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. Labour to the Conservatives - was enough to tip Labour out of office in the general election held in October 1951. For the first time, the government provided a catch-all benefits system which hypothecated a proportion of tax revenue thence to be paid against sickness, elderliness and unemployment to name but three key entitlements. Bankruptcy in 1808 did not prevent him from enjoying later success, with the backing of senior officials and . In this essay, I will look at the factors which led to the Labour . The Blitz also, more obviously, caused a huge rise in support for Labour's housing development plans. In fact, Dennis Shanahan wrote in The Australian: Morrison didn't just beat Labor in this election. 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Statisticians calculated that should it be repeated, Labour would secure a majority of 85 seats at the next election. Why did Labour win the 1945 election and lose in the 1951 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. 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. This is considered an important factor in Labour's victory by many historians Support for Labour in 1945 represented above all a reaction against pre-war Conservatism argues Adelman. until after the election on the grounds of "morality" which was the Outcome. Why did Labour lose its seats in 1951? 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. higher percentage of votes However, in 1950, Labour won by a tiny majority of 5 seats and in 1951 the Conservatives won by a majority of 17. Winston Churchill was a very popular speaker. Labour lost the election to the party whose ideas it was preaching. threat of Russia (Start he knew so little about 1940 was the year when the foundations of political power shifted decisively leftwards for a decade By the autumn of 1942 a major upheaval in public opinion had taken place. He lost again, but was given one more opportunity in 1951 . Labour had problems with trade unions- more strikes in the country. A TSR George 17 I got all the reasons.but looking at the figures conservative had 13.7mil votes and labour got 13.9mil. Labours answer focused on working class interests. How Winston Churchill Lost the 1945 British General Election 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. Dunkirk triggered many people to blame the conservatives and their previous leaders for appeasement. Why did Labour lose the 1951 election? Flashcards | Quizlet Senior Labour MP Margaret Hodge described Baroness Boothroyd as "inspirational" and "a trailblazer for women". The first-past-the-post system ensures that the elected government has a workable majority. These problems, however, would have been inherent to any government of Britain at the time, but the fact was, Labour were held accountable. Britains economic resources were being drained from all directions; Foreign Policy, Nationalisation, Welfare and Austerity. The economy's recovery was further hindered by the short-sighted need to remain a world power. Labour would not again form a government until 1964, the question is; what caused people to revert back to supporting the conservatives once again? Britains involvement in the Korean War also enabled the Conservatives to play on Churchills war hero status. So a better question is why did labour lose so many seats in '50. After researching the topic thoroughly, I Would argue the main reason Labour lost in 51 was . Gaitskell and Morrison (Deputy Prime Minister) both doubted whether Labour would be able to defeat the Conservatives in 1951, owing to their loss of seats in the 1950 election. Politicians are often rejected by voters because they have failed in office. From the research Ive done, Ive attempted to form what I consider to be that clear answer. This massive reform of the 1945-1946 period was dealt a blow in February 1947, when the government faced a fuel crisis. His reaction in a crisis is to threaten force. 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. Gaitskell and Morrison (Deputy Prime Minister) both doubted whether Labour would be able to defeat the Conservatives in 1951, owing to their loss of seats in the 1950 election. Gaitskell 1950, Bevan failed to accept compromised proposed by party opposed to the split labour, His limited standing within the House of It had several effects, all of which were harmful in both the long and short term. 25 October 1951 The ageing Conservative leader Winston Churchill won the 1951 election with a comfortable majority. 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. Although interesting they had little to do with shifting the electorate's opinions, indeed in 1945 both parties' campaigns were largely improvised. Voters associated labour with Austerity. Why did the Conservatives lose the 1964 election? - Coggle Similarly, Labour simply made too many promises that were out of their reach, however they did fulfil most of their promises. Explain Why Labour Lose In 1951 - 1675 Words | 123 Help Me But one of the reasons why Churchill lost the general election in 1945 was because he had succeeded in. The 1946 National Health Service Act provided free access to a range of hospital and general practitioner services across the country. Then, the second ministry saw a fractious Parliamentary party being further divided over the Korean War and the advancement of the National Health Service, leading up to a comfortable Tory win in the October 1951 election. and failed to outline their In 1945 the Conservatives had suffered from being divided and disorganised, while Labour had been strong and united. Why did the Labours lose even their historic strongholds? Maybe not the most important factor, but definitely worth noting, is the fact that the UK employs a first-past-the-post electoral system. This committed the UK government to keeping the value of sterling at a stable rate against the US dollar, and this meant that the governments hands were tied as they sought to address Britains balance of payments deficit by means of international trade. Most of us who are interested in gaming history today are well aware of the set of technical and aesthetic approaches these terms imply: namely, games built from snippets of captured digitized footage of . Thirdly, it brought about a further drop in voter confidence as external signs of infighting brought into question the competence and clarity of direction Labour could offer. Representation Of The Peoples Developments during the war made a considerable contribution towards the shift to the left, with more support for collectivism and rationing. There was nothing like the self-destructive trade union protests and strikes of the 1979 'Winter of . why did labour lose the 1951 election. How many seats did the Conservatives win in 1951, What policies were Labour associated with, What was one area the Labour party were divided on, How did Lord Woolton help the Tories reform, How many houses did the Tories promise to build each year, What did they promise to show rationing had ended, What was the name of the 1948 law which changed constituency boundaries, What party saw their vote fall from 2.6 million to 730,556, Christina Dejong, Christopher E. Smith, George F Cole, Government in America: Elections and Updates Edition, George C. Edwards III, Martin P. Wattenberg, Robert L. Lineberry. 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. However by 1945 Labour was a strong, organised and well respected party, whilst the Conservatives were weakened by the war and internal splits. By 1951, however, their roles had reversed. 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 . Wiki User 2009-09-25 15:23:48 Study now See answer (1) Copy the main points are: -record on nationalisation and welfare -economic problems which. The Attlee Labour government of 1945-51 ended more with a whimper than with a bang. Five reasons why Labour lost the election Here i looks at the reasons behind Labour's worst defeat in an election campaign since 1935. 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. Public transport -1948 Failure of liberal party leads to more marginal victories for C's. Labours taxation policies unpopular with middle classes led them to lose the 1959 election. Hugh Dalton's administration of the This was the fourth of five elections in the twentieth century where a party lost the popular vote, but won the most seats. The Labour government called a snap election for Thursday 25 October 1951 in the hope of increasing its parliamentary majority. Economic problems e.g.