Thirteen wasted years or Youve never had it

‘Thirteen wasted years’ or ‘You’ve never had it so good’? The Conservation Party were in power from 1951 – 1964 • • 1951 -55 Churchill 1955 -57 Eden 1957 -63 Macmillan 1963 -4 Douglas-Home

Why did the Conservatives Remain in Power from 1951 -1964? • Social changes & comparative prosperity of the 1950 s • Macmillan as Prime Minister • Problems in the Labour Party

Conservatives in Power 1951 -1964 Social Changes & Comparative Prosperity Poor Labour manifesto Reduced competition 1951 General Election Labour divisions Bad time for Labour Conservatives’ appealing manifesto Why did the Conservatives Win?

Conservatives in Power 1951 -1964 Prosperity Under the Conservatives The Conservatives were criticised for being unable to produce high sustained economic growth. However it cannot be denied that economic prosperity was seen and this made them popular with the electorate. • The economy grew • Low inflation • Low unemployment • Rise in general affluence • Economic planning • Increase in exports and consumer spending Their success is more notable because external factors made the climate harsh and competitive.

Conservatives in Power 1951 -1964 Macmillan as Prime Minister Restore unity & self confidence General Election victory International relationships Why was Macmillan so successful? Investment in manufacture Never had it so good Tax cuts Working week reduced

Conservatives in Power 1951 -1964 1959 General Election Focus on prosperity & living standards Majority of 100 over the Labour Party Conservative Victory Hailed as ‘Supermac’ Conservatives lead by 7% Labour vote down by 189 000 Excellent Conservative result

Conservatives in Power 1951 -1964 Problems in the Labour Party The 1951 General Election confirmed the domination of the two main parties. Therefore when problems arose in the Labour Party, popularity with the Conservatives increased. • Leadership problems • The Bevanites Bevan’s resignation Criticisms of party policy Bevan was seen as a leader to Bevan v Morrison – other left-wing MPs deputy leadership Defiance of party orders Bevan v Gaitskell - treasureship Bevan resigns from Shadow Cabinet • Party organisation Bevan v Gaitskell - leadership

Conservatives in Power 1951 -1964 Summary of Labour Problems Labour Party problems can be summarized as: • Internal feuding • Clash of personalities • Bitter disputes over policy and principles Conclusion - Why did the Conservatives remain in power from 1951 -1964? A combination of external factors (Labour problems) and internal successes (‘Supermac’) kept the Conservatives in power through three elections (1951, 1955 & 1959). They managed to appeal to the electorate with their focus on raising living standards and providing a time where people ‘never had it so good’. Solutions to the main domestic issues were presented well and people really did believe that life was better with the Conservatives.