Labour party 1951-64

The Labour Party 1951 – 64

·         period of infighting

·         Despite having in their leader Hugh Gaitskell, one of the finest politicians and leaders of his age, the party was arguing internally

·         Under Attlee and Bevin, the Labour Party had been able to rely on the support of the trade unions, especially when pushing through policies at party conference

·         Once Attlee resigned the party began to split between the left and right wings.

·         For those on the left, the party should be a fully fledged socialist party, and the Attlee reforms should have been nothing more than the start to building a truly socialist Britain.

·         The left was led by Bevan (Called Bevanites.) They were strongly influenced by communists.

·         Many, such as Michael Foot, believed in unilateralism

·         Mixed in were also divisions between ex public school boys such as Anthony Crossman and a new breed of grammar school educated members such as Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle.

·         The right was centred around Gaitskell and Morrison was a member of the moderate centre right of the party who wanted to limit trade union influence and keep the special relationship with the USA, protect the political consensus.

·         He was supported by a new brigade such as Roy Jenkins.

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