The war effort had left Britain nearly bankrupt, costing about a quarter of its national wealth. This was solved in the end by the Marshall Plan, but that didn’t stop Britain’s economy from changing. Britain became more focused on Burke’s ideas of economic freedom and reducing taxes while also continuing to be very Pro-Capitalist, particularly because of Communism spreading from the USSR. The Conservative government of the 1950s also encouraged home-ownership, with over 300,000 houses being built a year. In addition, particularly in the 1960s, consumerism increased greatly. However, there are many examples to say Britain was moving further and further away from traditional economic conservatism; the constant economic planning by both Conservative and Labour governments, and the government’s general high spending are examples of socialism, while also trying to join the ECC shows interventionalism and a break away from tradition. Thatcher in the 1980s shows a complete break way from economic tradition, with her main policy of reducing the role of the state (economic liberalism).
The changes after World War I, following the Beverage report, meant that the government undertook measures in policy to provide for the people ‘from the cradle to the grave’. The policy of creating a Welfare State resulted in massive expenditure and a great widening of what was considered to be the state's responsibility. The central services were Education, Health, Unemployment, increasing redistributive taxation, and increasing regulation of industry food and housing. This could all be seen as socialist, but conservatives could argue creating a suitable welfare state was a reform they would have made (especially after World War II). This was initiated by the post-war Labour government, and due to political consensus up until the 1970s, it remained largely unchanged. Churchill continued and extended the welfare state, passing the Mental Health Act. Even into the 1980s, (in comparison to policies), Thatcher hardly changed the Welfare state. Since 1945, the Welfare State has been slowly reforming and improving, and with the exception of it being almost immediately implemented soon after the Labour government were elected, generally the welfare state is seen as ultimately creating more order.
Another key policy of the conservative governments between 1945 and 1990, was regarding foreign policy. The USSR and the Cold War was clearly the main concern, with Britain being very against communism, but not wanting a direct confrontation with Russia after World War I & II. Britain also showed signs, especially in the early 1950s, of nationalism. Still believing themselves to be a ‘World Power’, the Suez Crisis shows Britain trying to keep a hold of her Empire, while also trying to implement it’s international position when in fact, at that time, it was always so dependent on America. In addition, Britain allowed independence to colonies (African Nations), which can be seen as Pragmatic and One-Nationist, but also against tradition, and only really doing it because they have to as economically, they are nowhere near the world power they once were or any of the World Powers of today. As Britain fell from their world power status, old traditions had to be given up.
Nationalization and privatization were two opposite economic policies carried out at different times between 1945-1990. Labour governments favored nationalization when necessary and the conservatives (particularly of the New Right) generally favored privatization, even though traditional conservatism implies they should be in favor of nationalization and that privatization was liberal. From 1945-79, nationalization became quite popular, starting with the nationalization of the Iron and Steel Industry in 1951 under the shortly departing Labour government. It was denationalized by the following conservative government, but then Labour nationalized steel again in 1967. Nationalization was supposed to help the poor, but at this time conservatives believed nationalization could deliver goods more efficiently than government due to free market competition. Under Thatcher however, Britain turned direction and privatized extensively; privatizing for example Enterprise Oil and British Telecom in 1984, as well as steel again in 1988, showing again Thatcher’s conservative parties break away from custom and traditional conservatism.
Therefore, to conclude, Britain’s post-war policies up until 1990 seem to show some similarities and differences with Traditional conservatism. Theorists of the New Right saw flaws in traditional conservatism, and attempted to amend these by reform. These flaws resided mainly within society, the economy and the role played by authority in an efficient and coherent society. Burke and Disraeli’s writings of the 18th and 19th century are by the late 20th century outdated, while conservatism is reactionary and consequentently will adapt to change. While thorough Thatcher shows similarities with Traditional Conservatism, she only implemented her policies after events such as the winter of discontent forced her to, and she was far more against the then Labour government’s policies of the 70s. Additionally, other conservative governments were just reacting to the times, and certainly weren’t trying to conform to traditional conservatism or any other fixed ideology for that matter. Conservatism governments ultimately conformed to traditional conservatism in that the core values, such as Order, Inequality, Human Nature and Tradition, remain as key values in every conservative government.
