Why did the Conservatives lose the election of 1964?

?
  • Created by: hastr010
  • Created on: 15-05-18 16:57
View mindmap
  • Why were the Conservatives defeated in 1964?
    • economic failures
      • World trade declined by 10%
      • 34.5% of funds went into research or defence rather than the people
      • Failed to modernise staple industries (textiles and ship building)
      • unemployment rates increased despite aim for 'full employment;
    • Social failures
      • limited amount of achievements compared to previous governments
      • riots - Britain was struggling to adapt to a multi-racial society
        • Immigrants were blamed for housing and job shortages
          • Race riots, Notting Hill - white youths attacked black owned and rented properties
      • Commonwealth immigration act -1962 - influx of Immigrants came to UK
    • Scandals
      • Profumo affair
        • 1963 - John Profumo had an affair with Russian Ambassador - posing a security risk
      • Philby case
        • Senior official has been passing info to the USSR and had been recruiting spies for them
    • Suez crisis 1956
      • misjudged the mood of the people
      • eden Had already been criticised for his lacklustre domestic policy
      • Eden's decision to withdraw was seen as evidence of his lack of political will and less than 3 months later he stood down as PM
    • Macmillan - 'Mac the knife'
      • Cabinet reshuffling - Night of the long knives 1962
        • seen as ruthless
      • The French Vetoed attempts for Britain to join EEC
      • Critics suggested that Macmillan had lost control of parliament due to scandals

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar History resources:

See all History resources »See all Britain 1930-1997 resources »