Britain, 1945 - 1991Britain, 1945 - 1991

Emphasis on Domestic Policy Emphasis on Domestic Policy rather than Foreign Policy rather than Foreign Policy

Topic AreasTopic Areas

Consensus Politics from Labour to ThatcherConsensus Politics from Labour to Thatcher Britain & Decline? Performance of the Britain & Decline? Performance of the

economy, 1945-91economy, 1945-91 Social change and multiracial societySocial change and multiracial society Britain & EuropeBritain & Europe

(Links to Ireland, Europe & World)(Links to Ireland, Europe & World)

What was Britain like in 1945?What was Britain like in 1945?

Changing nature of global positionChanging nature of global position Britain between the wars, 1919-1939Britain between the wars, 1919-1939 How was Britain affected by WWII?How was Britain affected by WWII?

Britain between the Wars:Britain between the Wars:

Poverty or Affluence?Poverty or Affluence?

George Orwell, 1936, Road to Wigan PierGeorge Orwell, 1936, Road to Wigan Pier

‘‘through the monstrous scenery of slag-heaps, through the monstrous scenery of slag-heaps, chimneys, piled scrap-iron, foul canals, chimneys, piled scrap-iron, foul canals, paths of cindery mud criss-crossed by the paths of cindery mud criss-crossed by the prints of prints of clogs…Sheclogs…She had a pale round face, had a pale round face, the usual exhaused face of the slum girl who the usual exhaused face of the slum girl who is 25 and looks 40, thanks to miscarriages & is 25 and looks 40, thanks to miscarriages & drudgery; and it wore, for the second in drudgery; and it wore, for the second in which I saw it, the most desolate hopeless which I saw it, the most desolate hopeless expression I have ever seen’.expression I have ever seen’.

Benefit of Hindsight…Benefit of Hindsight…

Britain recovered relatively quickly from the Britain recovered relatively quickly from the ‘Great Crash’, 1929-31.‘Great Crash’, 1929-31.

Between the years 1932 - 1937Between the years 1932 - 1937

- national income rose by 20%national income rose by 20%

- Industrial production rose by 40%Industrial production rose by 40%

- Income per head of the population by 18%Income per head of the population by 18%

Orwell’s view does not tell the whole truth, but should not Orwell’s view does not tell the whole truth, but should not be dismissed.be dismissed.

According to Richard Hoggart: According to Richard Hoggart:

‘‘There was a deep and gross divisiveness at the very heart of There was a deep and gross divisiveness at the very heart of British society which radically separated the consciousness British society which radically separated the consciousness of the Lancashire mill worker – underschooled, of the Lancashire mill worker – underschooled, underhoused, underpaid, undercared for in almost all underhoused, underpaid, undercared for in almost all respects and with no reasonable hope of betterment, from respects and with no reasonable hope of betterment, from an Old Etonian – sure of a good job in the City, sure of a an Old Etonian – sure of a good job in the City, sure of a world which embraced the best clubs, Ascot, Lords, an world which embraced the best clubs, Ascot, Lords, an attractive house and a wife to match it all.’attractive house and a wife to match it all.’

How does war affect a country?How does war affect a country?

Why did the Labour Party win the election of Why did the Labour Party win the election of 1945?1945?

Periods of warfare – that is to say of violence, Periods of warfare – that is to say of violence, brutality and general mayhem – are often followed brutality and general mayhem – are often followed by outbreaks of tender idealism whose most by outbreaks of tender idealism whose most common symptom is the vision of a fairer society. common symptom is the vision of a fairer society. As in 1918, with ‘a country fit for heroes to live in’, As in 1918, with ‘a country fit for heroes to live in’, so in 1945, when the Labour party was closely so in 1945, when the Labour party was closely associated with hopes for a better future and a associated with hopes for a better future and a welfare state...Labour did not have to win the welfare state...Labour did not have to win the election but merely avoid losing itelection but merely avoid losing it

Robert Pearce, 1994Robert Pearce, 1994

An extract from An extract from Let us face the FutureLet us face the Future, the Labour , the Labour Party’s 1945 ManifestoParty’s 1945 Manifesto

The nation needs a tremendous overhaul, a great programme The nation needs a tremendous overhaul, a great programme of modernisation and re-equipment of its homes, its factories of modernisation and re-equipment of its homes, its factories and machinery, its schools, its social services. All parties say and machinery, its schools, its social services. All parties say so – the Labour Party means it. For the Labour Party is so – the Labour Party means it. For the Labour Party is prepared to achieve it by drastic policies of replanning and by prepared to achieve it by drastic policies of replanning and by keeping a firm constructive hand on our whole productive keeping a firm constructive hand on our whole productive machinery; the Labour Party will put the community first and machinery; the Labour Party will put the community first and the sectional interest of private business after. The Labour the sectional interest of private business after. The Labour Party is a socialist party and proud of it. Its ultimate purpose at Party is a socialist party and proud of it. Its ultimate purpose at home is the establishment of the Socialist Commonwealth of home is the establishment of the Socialist Commonwealth of Great Britain – free, democratic, efficient, public spirited, its Great Britain – free, democratic, efficient, public spirited, its material resources organised in the service of the British material resources organised in the service of the British people.people.

The 1945 election resultThe 1945 election result

Votes Seats % Vote

Conservative 9,988,306 213 39.8

Liberal 2,248,226 12 9

Labour 11,995,152 393 47.8

Communist 102,780 2 0.4

Others 751,514 20 3

Reasons for Labour’s Landslide VictoryReasons for Labour’s Landslide Victory

A feeling that the interwar political establishment A feeling that the interwar political establishment had not understood the needs of the peoplehad not understood the needs of the people

Conservative’s mismanagement of the economyConservative’s mismanagement of the economy AppeasementAppeasement ‘‘A land fit for heroes’?A land fit for heroes’? The progressive spirit of the Labour PartyThe progressive spirit of the Labour Party ChurchillChurchill Conservative election campaignConservative election campaign Labour experience gained in wartime coalitionLabour experience gained in wartime coalition