Macmillan

Macmillan

·         British people “never had it so good”

·         Social – Butler had a liberal approach – 1957 Homicide Act effectively ended death penalty

·         Wages – average weekly wage increased by £10 between 1951 and 1964 – rise in real wages – buy more consumer goods

·         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

·         Housing – achieved 300,000 homes a year target – more than Labour – 1957 Rent Act put 6 millions properties on the market – greater availability of mortgages – “property-owning democracy”

·         BUT – Rent Act meant rents increased – harder for the poor – Macmillan thought this was a necessary trade-off

·         “never had it so good” also a warning – consumer boom increased inflation, unemployment at 878,000 in 1963 – …