Labour 1951-1964

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What can the right of the party otherwise be known as?
Gaitskellites
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Who won the Labour leadership in 1955?
Hugh Gaitskell.
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Who were there personal rivalries between in Labour? Why?
Gaitskell and Bevan - Gaitskell introduced prescription charges in 1951 which went against Bevan's NHS and Bevan lost the leadership to Gaitskell.
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When did Gaitskell and Bevan begin to rejoin in their alliance? Why?
Between 1956 and 1960. Bevan increasingly supported Gaitskell on the Suez affair and in 1957 Bevan announced his new opposition to unilateral nuclear disarmament.
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What was Bevan's new argument for unilateral nuclear disarmament?
It would send a British Foreign Secretary naked into the conference chamber.
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What did the right of the party encourage? Why?
Nuclear development - to have good links with the US and go against the SU and to act as a detterent for war.
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What did the right of the party want to abandon? Why?
Clause IV and nationalisation - it was a large burden on taxpayer and national economy and no motivation for managers to make profit.
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What did Bevan become when relations with Gaitskell improved?
Shadow foreign secretary.
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What can the left of the party otherwise be known as?
Bevanites
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What did the left of the party encourage? Why?
Nationalisation - allowed for big pension packages, provided job security and wasn't a large difference socially between the employers and employees. Also, any profit would go to the government.
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Which side of the party were anti-European?
The left.
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What did the left of the party want to abandon? Why?
Nuclear, they were for unilateral nuclear disarmament.
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Why did the left want to get rid of nuclear?
For some this was patriotism as they didn't want Britain to burden itself with colossal nuclear production as it diverted resources away from society, and for others they were anxious that the SU should not fall too far behind in the arms race.
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Which side of the party were more hostile to the US?
The left.
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Who did the left want to gain support from?
The large trade unions (who spoke for working classes) to be left-wingers and majorly help shape party policy.
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Which trade unionist led fierce opposition to Gaitskell on nuclear?
Frank Cousins.
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What took place at the 1959 party conference?
Gaitskell put forward abolishing Caluse IV, but he was too remote and tactfully inept and had done little preparation, even surprising allies such as Wilson. This led to fierce opposition from trade unions and the left causing Gaitskell to back down.
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What were Labour's feelings towards the 1959 general election?
They entered with optimism - Gaitskell was a confident and effective campaigner and promoted moderate policies. The Tories were also still recovering from Suez. The defeat was a geniune surprise.
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What caused heightened tensions in Labour?
The 1959 loss - the 3rd consecutive loss. Gaitskell accused the left of weakening the campign through unilaterialsim and the left blamed Gaitskell for not following principles.
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After the 1959 defeat, what was formed on the right to rally to Gaitskell's support?
The CDS.
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When did the Labour divisions from 1959 come to a climax?
At the party conference in 1960 in Scarborough - Gaitskell was left isolated due to the death of Bevan in July 1960.
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How had Gaitskell's stance on nuclear and defence changed at the 1960 party conference?
He now realised Britain couldn't have an independent nuclear deterrent due to the abandonment of Blue Streak, but he was still fully committed to NATO and use of nuclear.
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When did Gaitskell finally change party policy of nuclear was the way forward?
1961 - at the Blackpool party conference. Part of this was due to the CDS and also as the public hated the vicous attacks on Gaitskell - they wanted unity.
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How did support on Gaitskell's defence policy in 1961 come out on top?
There 4,526,000 votes in support to 1,756,000 against, and three of the big six trade unions had chnaged sides since 1960.
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When was Gaitskell's leadership no longer in doubt?
From 1961, at the party conference in Blackpool.
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What issue helped Gaitskell's popularity to increase in the early 1960s?
His anti-European stance.
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When did Gaitskell die?
January 1963.
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How was Gaitskell remembered?
'The best PM the Labour party had never had' by the right.
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How was Bevan remembered?
The uncompromising Socialist rebel by the left.
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Who was elected Labour leader in February 1963?
Harold Wilson, by both sides of the party.
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What was Wilson's main priority?
Party unity.
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What did Wilson associate Labour with? How did this help unity?
At the 1963 conference he emphasised 'modernisation', which helped to reconcile the party further.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Who won the Labour leadership in 1955?

Back

Hugh Gaitskell.

Card 3

Front

Who were there personal rivalries between in Labour? Why?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

When did Gaitskell and Bevan begin to rejoin in their alliance? Why?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What was Bevan's new argument for unilateral nuclear disarmament?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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