Harold Macmillan 57-63

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Harold Macmillan 57-63 general

-Sharpe political sense and wasn't seen to be invloves with the suez affair 

-Respected by the working class for fighting in 1914-1918 war

-Half scottish and half American but was seen as British

-Dry sense of humour and liked by the people 

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Harold Macmillan 57-63 Successes

1-night of long knives- was seen as determined and proactive 

2-"never had it so good" claim - Britain is thriving 

3-made Butler home secaratery- this made people trust M. 

4-"Real wages" - wages higher than infation so people can buy things Wages – average weekly wage increased by £10 between 1951 and 1964 – rise in real wages – buy more consumer goods.

5-Rent act- could be good as 6 million houses put on the market for people to buy 

6-built more comprehensive schools than labour 

7- Credit – between 1950 and 1965 car sales went from 1.5 million to 5.5 million Greater and wealth and credit led to a reduction in class distinctions and increased meritocracy – “class escalators are continually moving” Butler – possessions no longer dictated class 

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Harold Macmillan 57-63 Failures

1-rejected from EEC by France in 1963- this caused embarrasment 

2- Independence to Africa as whites still dominated south Africa- loosing empire 

3-social tensions eg:racism, teddy boys, mods and rockers- time for a change that no one was happy about 

4- supermac- made fun of for trying to change everything "nothing is impossible"

5- stop go policy- people getting tired of it by now. 

6-Rent act - made many people loose homes for not being able to afford rent

7-unemployment was high suggesting Britain had, had it better. 

8-scandals- perfumo: a escort having an affair with the minister of war (john perfumo) and a russion spy and also a notting hill drug dealer. 1963 -vassal affair: caught spying 

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