POLITICAL

• In 1952, Churchill was replaced by Anthony Eden as Prime Minister due to ill health.
• Eden's foreign policy was focused on ending Britain’s dependence on American aid and rebuilding its relationship with France.
• The Conservatives won the election with an overall majority of 50 seats
• Eden's foreign policy focused on the Suez Crisis, which led to his resignation in January 1957.
• Harold Macmillan succeeded Eden as Prime Minister in February 1957.
• Macmillan faced opposition from trade unions over pay rises and working conditions
• The Conservative government under Macmillan continued many of the policies introduced during the war years
• Macmillan attempted to improve relations between Britain and Europe through membership of the European Economic Community (EEC)
• Macmillan faced challenges such as the Hungarian Uprising (1956), the Suez Crisis (1956), and the Berlin Wall (1961).
• Eden faced opposition from Labour MPs who criticized his handling of Suez Crisis
• Labour gained 7 seats while the Liberals lost 8 seats
• Conservative support declined slightly but they still held a large majority
• Macmillan introduced the National Health Service Act (1958) to improve healthcare services
• In 1958, Macmillan announced that he would not stand again at the next general election due to ill health
• Macmillan also implemented policies such as the Education Act (1944), which provided free secondary education for all children aged between 11 and 15 years old
• Macmillan continued Conservative policies but also introduced social reforms such as the National Health Service Act (1958) and the Education Act (1962).
• Macmillan's successor was chosen by the party leadership rather than through a vote among MPs or members
• In 1958, Macmillan announced that "most people have never had it so good" due to economic growth and rising living standards.
• Macmillan resigned as prime minister in October 1963 and was replaced by Alec Douglas-Home
• Macmillan's government passed legislation that improved housing standards through the Town and Country Planning Act (1947)
• Labour lost the general elections in October 1959, with the Conservatives winning a landslide victory.
• The Conservative Party was divided over whether to replace Eden with Butler or Macmillan.
• Macmillan resigned as prime minister in October 1963 following a series of scandals involving members of his cabinet.
• Butler's supporters argued that he had more experience and was better suited to lead the party into the future.
• However, Macmillan's supporters believed that he was more popular among voters and could win another election.
• Macmillan's government passed several important pieces of legislation including the Representation of the People Act 1962 which lowered the voting age to 21.
• Harold Wilson became leader of the Labour Party in 1963.
• The Conservatives won the 1959 General Election with an increased majority.
• Wilson was seen as more modern than Gaitskell and appealed to younger voters.
• The Labour Party suffered from internal divisions over nationalization and foreign policy during this period.
• Macmillan faced opposition from trade unions over pay rises and strikes during his time in office
• The Conservatives won the general election with an increased majority in 1955, despite Labour winning more votes overall
• At the end of his premiership, Churchill faced criticism for his handling of the Suez Crisis and his health deteriorated rapidly.
• Douglas-Home became the new prime minister but faced opposition from Labour MPs who criticized him for being an aristocrat.
• Post-War Consensus


  A period of political agreement between the Labour and Conservative parties in the UK from 1939 to 1964
• Mixed Economy


  A blend of public and private ownership of industries, with government regulation
• Full Employment


  The government's commitment to maintaining low levels of unemployment through Keynesian economic policies
• Welfare State


  A comprehensive system of social services and benefits, including the National Health Service (NHS)
• Social Reform


  A focus on expanding education, housing, and social services
• Economic Planning


  The government's use of monetary and fiscal policy to manage the economy