Explain why the Tories won the General Election in 1959?
Explain why the Tories won the General Election in 1959?
The Tories won in the 1959 was a due to a culmination of factors that both forced Labour’s downfall in support and promulgated “just how good life was” for the British people under Tory rule.
Possibly the most important reason for the Tory victory was the growing economic prosperity. This ideology was one of the Tories key focuses since they came back into power in the post war elections of 1951 and Macmillan did a sterling job in continuing the great work by creating what was known as the “age of affluence” allowing Britain to shine through as one of the World’s major economic powers. Bolstered by an improvement of world trade in the later 1950s, which enabled Britain to import about 29% more goods than it had in 1951 for the name number of exports proved that Britain was truly changing for the good. This massive economic growth also had a positive effect on the citizens who saw their average weekly wage double since 1951. The increase in real wages saw an augmented national purchase of goods such as TVs, motorbikes and cars. This sudden and vast economic recovery was harmful to Labour’s electoral campaign. With the working classes able to afford considerably more under Conservative rule due to the mass economic prosperity left Labour without a message or a receptive audience as the former traditional Labour voters were now middle-class conservatives. I think the age of the economic prosperity proving “life was better” with the conservatives was the most paramount factor that contributed to their victory.
On top of the economic prosperity, Macmillan’s political achievements were also pivotal in him securing his second term in office. His worldwide achievements which established him as a politician of global importance which included: the rebuilding of bridges with the USA after Suez, which then escalated in them joining forces as they simultaneously sent troops to Lebanon and Jordan in the summer of 1958
The Tories won in the 1959 was a due to a culmination of factors that both forced Labour’s downfall in support and promulgated “just how good life was” for the British people under Tory rule.
Possibly the most important reason for the Tory victory was the growing economic prosperity. This ideology was one of the Tories key focuses since they came back into power in the post war elections of 1951 and Macmillan did a sterling job in continuing the great work by creating what was known as the “age of affluence” allowing Britain to shine through as one of the World’s major economic powers. Bolstered by an improvement of world trade in the later 1950s, which enabled Britain to import about 29% more goods than it had in 1951 for the name number of exports proved that Britain was truly changing for the good. This massive economic growth also had a positive effect on the citizens who saw their average weekly wage double since 1951. The increase in real wages saw an augmented national purchase of goods such as TVs, motorbikes and cars. This sudden and vast economic recovery was harmful to Labour’s electoral campaign. With the working classes able to afford considerably more under Conservative rule due to the mass economic prosperity left Labour without a message or a receptive audience as the former traditional Labour voters were now middle-class conservatives. I think the age of the economic prosperity proving “life was better” with the conservatives was the most paramount factor that contributed to their victory.
On top of the economic prosperity, Macmillan’s political achievements were also pivotal in him securing his second term in office. His worldwide achievements which established him as a politician of global importance which included: the rebuilding of bridges with the USA after Suez, which then escalated in them joining forces as they simultaneously sent troops to Lebanon and Jordan in the summer of 1958