Labour Party 51-63
- Created by: Amy
- Created on: 30-04-14 12:05
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- Labour 1951-64
- narrowly lost 1951 election - tota labour vote = 14 mil bigger than any victories
- believed might soon return to power
- but suffering deep internal divisions - intensified through 50s
- attlee stayed leader til 55, ernest bevin died in 51
- believed might soon return to power
- party unity was well maintained during govt. but htere wasgrowing split of personalities and ideology
- key figures in split aneurin bevan (NHS - hero of the lab. left) and hugh gaitskell (prescription charges chancellor)- both considered to be next leader
- clash between bevanites and gaitskellites came later but harmed effectiveness of govt
- key figures in split aneurin bevan (NHS - hero of the lab. left) and hugh gaitskell (prescription charges chancellor)- both considered to be next leader
- Suez Crisis 56
- Gaitskell seemed likely to benefit from disgrace of Eden and boost Labour
- if general election called in early 57 - might be elected
- but it did not split C party
- MacMillan quickly re-established unity and proved to be commanding PM
- same time = maintaining party unity was increasingly diff, for Gaitskell
- MacMillan quickly re-established unity and proved to be commanding PM
- but it did not split C party
- if general election called in early 57 - might be elected
- Gaitskell seemed likely to benefit from disgrace of Eden and boost Labour
- Gaitskell = right wing of party
- regarded with suspicion by left
- disagrrements and personal feuds became central part of lab. party between gaitskellites and bevanites
- regarded with suspicion by left
- 1959 election
- optimism they could win
- Gaitskell confident campaigner, promoting moderate policies thought pop. with lab. voters
- crushing defeat = surprise + disappointment
- Gaitskell confident campaigner, promoting moderate policies thought pop. with lab. voters
- result of 59 election = splits widened
- growing opp. to party leadership from trade u
- divisions over Britain's nuclear weapons
- The CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) formed in 1958
- rapidly became most powerful pressure grp
- The CND (campaign for nuclear disarmament) formed in 1958
- Reasons= -divisions over socialist policies (nationalisation) splits over CND, uncertainty of EEC
- optimism they could win
- 59 conference
- before election G wanted to abandon clause 4
- clause committed party to nationalisation
- idea from west germany's SDP who dumped commitments to marxist ideas
- clause committed party to nationalisation
- opposition from left wing and union leaders fierce
- gaitskell backed down without putting it to vote
- created further splits
- gaitskell backed down without putting it to vote
- before election G wanted to abandon clause 4
- position improved after 1960
- cultural shift incountry that made the public unsatisfied with afluence and critical of govt
- shown through publications 'private eye' and TV 'that was the week that was'
- 1962 'supermac' magic wearing off
- political problems and problems of balance of payments deficit
- gaitskell died in 63, wilson took over
- cultural shift incountry that made the public unsatisfied with afluence and critical of govt
- narrowly lost 1951 election - tota labour vote = 14 mil bigger than any victories
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