Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Why did the Labour Party
win the 1945 election?
- Labour Advantages
- More suited for post-war reconstruction.
- Stronger campaign: clear opinions.
- Allies in the media.
- Played on topics of "poverty" and "mass
unemployment."
- Laski said they couldn't be blamed
for "Potsdam."
- Conservative Disadvantages
- Did not deliver promised 'land fit for heroes.'
- No "clear sense of purpose."
- Churchill not "commited to a
party." Traditional
Conservatives didn't vote for
him.
- Accused of obstructing NHS - against Zeitgeist.
- Churchill's Personality
- Public liked Churchill, not
Conservatives - not enough to win NEW votes. .
- Churchills 'radical days were over.'
- Seen as warlord not peacetime PM.
- Campaign Tactics
- Negative tactics - exploiting Laski, meant
too much time spent countering Labour.
- Adversary politics.
- Scare tactics e.g. Gestapo was
too pessimistic.
- Speeches only impressed
obvious Conservative
supporters.
- War Context
- General election 2 weeks
after war - wanted change.
- Rumoured Churchill wanted "war
against Russia."
- "War weariness" amongst civilians, and
votes lost from army.
- Voting System
- "First Past The Post"
- 50%+ voted against
Labour, but they won.
- Conservatives only 2% short of 1/2 the vote.