1. 4SSIE001 – Challenges and Transformations: British Political History Since 1945

2. Module Leader: Dr Michael Kandiah (Michael.Kandiah@kcl.ac.uk) 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)

3. Lecture: Conservatives 1951- 64

4. Conservatives 1951-64 1951-1955 – Prime Minister: Winston Churchill 1955-1957 – Prime Minister: Anthony Eden 1957-1963 – Prime Minister: Harold Macmillan 1963-1964 – Prime Minister: Alec Douglas-Home

5. PartySeatsVotes% Share Conservative32113,717,53848 Labour29513,948,60548.8 Ulster Unionist9 Liberal6730,5562.5 Irish Nationalist2

6. General Election of 1955 PartySeatsVotes% Share Conservative34413,286,56949.7 Labour27712,404,97046.4 Ulster Unionist10 Liberal6 Sinn Fein2

7. General Election of 1959 PartySeatsVotes% Share Conservative36513,749,83049.4 Labour25812,215,53843.8 Ulster Unionist12 Liberal61,638,5715.9 Independent Unionist1

8. General Election of 1964 PartySeatsVotes% Share Labour31712,205,81444.1 Conservative30412,001,39643.4 Ulster Unionist12 Liberal93,092,87811.2 Independent1

9. 1951 – Immediate Challenges The issue of “mandate” Won the election but not the poll The economy Operation ROBOT rejected (Sir Leslie ROwan, Sir George BOlton and OTto Clarke)

10. National Debt to GDP

11. The economy 1951-64 The “Long Boom” – a stable international “Butskellism”? (Conservative: Butler + Labour: Gaitskell) The Bretton Woods System Fixed the rate of sterling $1 = £2.80 Constant Balance of Payments problems High defence spending The Sandys Defence Review 1957

12. Affluence Full Employment Rising Consumerism The coronation of Elizabeth II

13. Cars

14. Relative Decline Michael Shanks, The Stagnant Society: A Warning (1961)

15. The End of Empire African Decolonisation Mau Mau Asian Decolonisation Malaysia Cyprus Domestic Impact

16. The Suez Crisis Egypt’s Nationalisation of the Suez Canal – 26 July 1956 Protocol of Sèvres – UK, France & Israel Anglo-French intervention – 5 November 1956 UN condemned Anglo-French actions British withdraw – 29 November 1956

17. Aftermath of Suez Fall of Eden Brings the UK closer to the USA

18. An issue of image? Churchill Eden the failure Rise and Fall of Super Mac The aristocratic Douglas-Home