Transcript 4SSIE001 * Challenges and Transformations - KEATS

4SSIE001 – Challenges and
Transformations:
British Political History Since 1945
Module Leader:
Dr Michael Kandiah ([email protected])
Institute of Contemporary British History, N.227, 2nd Norfolk Building,
Surrey Street, King’s College London, WC2R 2LS. (Office Hours: Most
Mondays, 16.00-17.00, and Wednesdays, 13.00-14.00. Appointments
recommended)
Lecture: Labour 1945-51
Election Result 1945
Party
Labour
Conservative
National Liberal
Independent
Ulster Unionist
Liberal
Independent Liberal
Independent Labour Party
Communist
Nationalist
Irish Nationalist
Independent Labour
Independent Unionist
Common Wealth
Seats
Votes
393
213
13
11
10
10
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
11,995,152
9,988,306
102,780
110,634
The Labour Administrations, 1945-50; 195051
Prime Minister: Clement Attlee
Chancellor of the Exchequer: Hugh Dalton 1945-47; Sir Stafford Cripps,
1947-50; Hugh Gaitskell, 1950-51
Foreign Secretary: Ernest Bevin, 1945-51; Herbert Morrison, 1951
Minister for Health: Aneurin Bevan 1945-51; Hilary Marquand, 1951
UK Debt
Year
Population-UK
million
Public Net Debt -total
percent GDP
1945
49.035
215.64
1946
49.242
237.12
1947
49.450
237.94
1948
49.659
213.97
1949
49.868
197.77
1950
50.079
193.89
1951
50.290
175.34
Welfare prior to the establishment of the
welfare state:
• The Mediaeval & Elizabeth Poor Law
• New Poor Law 1834
Age of Austerity
• Rationing
• Food
• Clothing
• Currency Controls
Economic Challenges 1945-51
• Shattered World Economy
• Shattered European Economy
• Need to re-establish export markets
• Need to re-orientate domestic economy to peacetime
• Need to feed people
• Need to house people
Establishment of the Welfare State
• National Health Service Act of 1946
• The National Health Services started 1948
• Nationalised the hospitals and provided for free universal medical
care
Establishment of the Welfare State
• National Insurance Act of 1946
• provided sickness and unemployment benefits for adults, plus retirement
pensions.
• The National Assistance Act of 1948
• provided a safety net for anyone not otherwise covered.
Establishment of the Welfare State
• New Towns Act of 1946
Nationalisations
• The Transport Act 1947
• Nationalised the railway companies: Great Western Railway, London, Midland
and Scottish Railway, London and North Eastern Railway and the Southern
Railway to form British Railways.
• Nationalisation of Coal
• Nationalisation of the Iron & Steel Industry
Relationship with the USA
• Massive Indebtedness
• Wartime loans: Lend Lease ended September 1945
• 1946 loan $4.33bn
• Marshall Aid
• Devaluation of sterling 1949
• Decision of acquire atomic weapons
• Establishment of NATO
Challenge to the UK’s Global Position
• Withdrawal from Greece 1947 – the start of the Cold War
• Withdrawal from India August 1947
• Withdrawal from Palestine 1947-48
General Election of Feb 1950
Party
Seats
Votes
% Share
Labour
315
13,266,592
46.1
Conservative
297
12,502,567
43.5
Ulster Unionist
10
Liberal
9
2,621,548
9.1
Irish Nationalist
2
Independent Liberal
1
Labour 1950-51
• Korean War
• Rising Cost of Health Service
• Resignation of Aneurin Bevan
General Election of Oct 1951
Party
Seats
Votes
% Share
Conservative
321
13,717,538
48
Labour
295
13,948,605
48.8
Ulster Unionist
9
Liberal
6
730,556
2.5
Irish Nationalist
2
Irish Labour
1