Why did the Conservatives win the 1951 elections?
- Created by: hastr010
- Created on: 15-05-18 15:39
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- Why were the Conservatives elected into power in 1951?
- Labour weaknesses
- Blamed for Korean War - 1950
- Associated with polices of Austerity, Rationing and high taxation
- Divides in party over NHS - opticians fee and economic policy,
- Financial strain
- Conservative Strengths
- Lord Woolten reformed party finances and local organisation - the party was in a strong position
- Reginald Maudling made the party feel fresh, young and dynamic
- They promised to build 300,000 houses per year in comparison to Labours 200,000
- Anti- rationing campaign - five the people 'more red meat'
- Promised to no reverse any changes made by Labour post-war and were fully committed to the welfare state
- Winston Churchill still popular as a 'war hero'
- Policies
- promised to build 300,000 houses a year
- Increase in trade
- Increased spending on welfare
- Changing the education system to make it more available - abolition of 11+
- Voting system
- The proportion of votes per seat for conservatives had declined by about 8,000 in 1951
- Boundary changes meant labour had to win 2% more votes to win the same number of seats
- Liberal votes fell by about 2million
- ex- liberal voters turned to the conservatives
- Labour weaknesses
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