Britain in Transition, 1906–1957 – 'Never had it so good'? 1951–1957…

The idea

From 1951 to 1957, the Conservatives achieved political dominance under Churchill, Eden, and Macmillan. Their success relied on 'consensus politics', accepting Labour's welfare state and mixed economy. Popular domestic policies, like Macmillan's pledge to build 300,000 houses annually, cemented their appeal. Crucially, this dominance was aided by severe internal Labour divisions. The split between the Bevanite left and Gaitskellite right over dental and optical charges and rearmament rendered the opposition weak. Thus, pragmatic Conservative leadership, appealing domestic reforms, and a fractured Labour Party ensured sustained Conservative control.

What earns the marks

• Evaluate the extent to which consensus politics contributed to Conservative electoral success between 1951 and 1957.
• Assess the impact of internal Labour divisions, specifically the Bevanite split over dental and optical charges, on the Conservative Party's ability to maintain power.
• Analyse the effectiveness of Churchill, Eden, and Macmillan as political leaders in projecting stability and competence.
• Examine the role of specific domestic policies, such as the housing drive, in securing working-class and middle-class votes.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming the Conservatives dismantled the welfare state after 1951.

  Put it right: Explain that the Conservatives embraced consensus politics, maintaining the welfare state and the mixed economy.

• Treating the Labour Party as a united opposition during this period.

  Put it right: Highlight the deep ideological divisions between the Bevanite left and the Gaitskellite right over issues like rearmament and health charges.

• Attributing Conservative dominance solely to economic factors.

  Put it right: Ensure you also evaluate the roles of political leadership, domestic policy successes, and opposition weakness.

Exam tips

• When discussing leadership, contrast Churchill's figurehead status with the active domestic management by figures like Macmillan and Butler.
• Use the 300,000 houses pledge as a concrete example of how the Conservatives outmanoeuvred Labour on domestic policy.
• Weigh the relative importance of Conservative strengths against Labour weaknesses when explaining political dominance.