Assess the reasons why labour lost the 1951 election?

• What was the legacy of 45 - 51?

  • Keynesian economic policy
  • Welfare based on beveridge
  • State control of industry
  • Education based on equality
  • Pro - American Foriegn policy
  • Empire important
• Labour manifesto 


  • Peace
  • Full employment and production
  • Cost of living
  • Social justice
• Conservative manifesto : 


  • Shift to the left
  • Stop nationalisation
  • 300k new houses
  • impose a form on excess tax
• Why did labour lose?

  • Old and tired
  • Divided between bevan and gaitskell
  • Couldn’t shake reputation from rationing and high taxes - uncontrollable
  • Jam today - people wanted change and Labour appears yo be the same
  • Entry into Korean War
  • Trade unions dissatisfaction
• What were the Conservative strengths?

  fed up with auetsrity

  • shift to left and ‘new Jerusalem p’
  • Churchill becomes figure head for Korea