Why keep the Cons. in the 1960s

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“Personalities not policies kept the Conservatives in office and the Labour Party out, between the years 1951-64”. Discuss

Why was it that in 1951 victory was shown to be so close, yet by the 1959 General Election it had produced a Conservative majority of 100 MPs? Why were personalities so important at the time? Consensus- party, policies were generally very similar, so it was usually the personalities that shone the party, to the public eye.

    Winston Churchill had finally let go of the reins of power in April, leaving Sir Anthony Eden to take up the Tory leadership. Eden helped Conservatives win in 1955, with his ‘film star looks’ appealing to the public. Eden was the housewife choice. However in 1957, he resigns due to ill health, due to the pressures of Suez. Macmillan then comes into power, from 1957, having narrowly defeated Butler in the power struggle.

      Macmillan proved to be a smooth political operator and established a reputation for skillful political management. Macmillan had an elegant style, a mastery of the media, and had a good grasp of party politics. Unlike Gaitskell, Macmillan was able to use the media to his advantage. A new form of media had just began, which would now benefit politics, if used effectively. ‘super-Mac’, was able to use this to his advantage, ‘Mac-wonderful’ was increasing Conservative likeability in the public eye.  

     Macmillan had entered the 1959 general election in a very strong position, there was a consumer boom and Labour was still suffering from internal feuding and in particular from disagreements over Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent. Even though, becoming Prime Minister in such difficult circumstances’. Macmillan proved to be on of the most successful of all conservative leaders, which could be said, may be down mostly to luck, down to the failure of the Labour Party.

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   However, this image of ‘super Mac’, was soon to end in 1962, where announcing rapid changes to the government, involving alterations of 39 out of the total 101 ministerial posts. Where now Macmillan was given the nickname ‘Mac the knife’.  

    In the 1959 general election, Conservatives had gained 321 seats, with 48% of the public vote. While Labour had gained, 48.8% of the vote while only gaining 295 seats.  Due to the ‘first past the post electorate system’.

     The policies in this respect of consensus were improving housing, maintaining full employment, continuing on ...

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