OCR Specification focus:
‘Reasons for Conservative decline; Labour leadership, divisions and electoral failures.’
Introduction
Between the early 1960s and mid-1960s, Britain experienced a political turning point. Conservative dominance faltered, while Labour’s divisions and renewed leadership shaped the political landscape.
Conservative Decline
Economic Difficulties
The Conservatives faced growing criticism for their handling of the economy.
Britain suffered from stop-go economics — short bursts of growth followed by stagnation and inflation.
Rising balance of payments deficits undermined confidence in Conservative economic management.
Despite claims of prosperity, voters became increasingly sceptical about the government’s ability to modernise industry and tackle structural weaknesses.
Stop-go economics: A cycle in which governments alternated between expansionary policies that stimulated growth and restrictive measures to curb inflation, creating instability.
Industrial productivity lagged behind other Western economies. West Germany and France saw rapid modernisation, while Britain appeared to be falling behind in global competitiveness.
Social Change and Conservatism
The early 1960s brought major cultural shifts:
The rise of a younger, more liberal electorate critical of traditional hierarchies.
Declining deference to institutions such as the monarchy, church, and Conservative-dominated establishment.
Growing awareness of class inequalities, highlighted by the satire boom and new media.
Conservatives were increasingly viewed as the ‘party of the past’, failing to engage with modern Britain.
Scandals and Loss of Credibility
The government was rocked by scandals that damaged its reputation:
The Profumo Affair (1963) linked the Secretary of State for War to Christine Keeler, exposing security risks and moral hypocrisy.
Earlier scandals, such as the Vassall affair (a spy case) and the Argyll divorce case, added to perceptions of sleaze and decline.
These controversies eroded trust, reinforcing the view that the Conservatives were tired, divided, and morally compromised.
Leadership Problems
After Churchill and Eden, the party struggled with succession.
Harold Macmillan resigned in 1963 due to ill health, leaving an image of instability.
The unexpected appointment of Alec Douglas-Home, an aristocrat chosen by a small circle, seemed out of touch in an era demanding modernisation and meritocracy.
Alec Douglas-Home, c.1963, shortly after becoming Prime Minister. His patrician image and selection process appeared anachronistic to a changing electorate, reinforcing perceptions of a party behind the times. High-resolution portrait for close study. Source
The Conservatives appeared disconnected from voters who wanted fresh leadership.
Labour Leadership
Harold Wilson’s Rise
In contrast, Labour benefited from effective new leadership:
Harold Wilson became leader in 1963 after the sudden death of Hugh Gaitskell.
Wilson projected himself as modern, youthful, and dynamic, appealing to the new technological age with promises of the ‘white heat of the technological revolution’.
His image contrasted sharply with Douglas-Home’s aristocratic background.
White heat of the technological revolution: Wilson’s phrase emphasising modernisation of industry, science, and technology as central to Britain’s future progress.
Wilson’s rhetoric suggested Labour could harness science to solve Britain’s economic decline, giving the party new credibility.
Divisions within Labour
Labour was not without problems, as divisions threatened unity:
The conflict between the Bevanites (left wing) and Gaitskellites (moderates) weakened Labour through the 1950s and early 1960s.
Disputes over nuclear weapons and relations with the United States divided the party further.
However, by 1964, Wilson’s leadership and skilful management of party factions reduced the intensity of these conflicts.
Though ideological rifts remained, Wilson provided enough unity to present Labour as an alternative government.
Electoral Failures and Political Shifts
Conservative Loss of Support
By 1964, Conservative appeal had narrowed:
Their association with privilege alienated working-class and younger middle-class voters.
The party seemed unable to connect with Britain’s changing cultural and social climate.
Economic stagnation, combined with scandals, undermined their electoral credibility.
Labour’s Electoral Prospects
Despite internal divisions, Labour capitalised on Conservative weakness:
Wilson’s leadership re-energised the party.
Labour’s promises of modernisation resonated with a society increasingly oriented toward progress and science.
Labour Party poster from 1964 showing Harold Wilson engaging with the public alongside the slogan “Let’s Go With Labour.” It exemplifies the campaign’s modernising ethos that contrasted with Conservative presentation. The object record includes contextual description; the image may include extra collection metadata not required by the syllabus. Source
Though Labour only won a slim majority in the 1964 general election, it marked the end of thirteen years of Conservative dominance.
Constituency results of the 1964 United Kingdom general election. The map highlights Labour gains sufficient to end Conservative dominance after thirteen years. It includes constituency granularity beyond the syllabus’ minimum, but this extra detail helps contextualise the national swing. Source
Majority government: A government formed when a political party wins more parliamentary seats than all other parties combined, allowing it to govern without coalition.
Other Political Factors
The Liberal Party revived under Jo Grimond, siphoning votes away from both Labour and Conservatives, adding to the volatility of elections.
Regional variations showed disenchantment with traditional two-party politics, but the main effect was to erode Conservative hegemony.
The Broader Context of Decline
The Conservative decline was not caused by one single factor but by a convergence:
Economic weakness reduced faith in their policies.
Cultural shifts made their leadership look outdated.
Scandals and leadership crises weakened credibility.
Meanwhile, Labour’s modern image under Wilson gave voters a viable alternative, despite internal divisions.
FAQ
Television programmes such as That Was the Week That Was mocked political figures and institutions, breaking down long-standing deference.
The Conservatives, often associated with establishment figures and traditional authority, were frequent targets. This helped foster the impression that the party was outdated and resistant to modern values.
The affair suggested incompetence and poor judgement within government circles, raising concerns about national security during the Cold War.
It also exposed a perceived double standard: ministers preached morality while engaging in dubious private behaviour. This contradiction eroded trust and gave Labour a political advantage.
A growing youth population began to challenge traditional hierarchies and demand social reform.
Younger voters were attracted to Labour’s emphasis on modernisation and technology.
Cultural icons such as The Beatles reinforced a shift away from deference and towards innovation.
Conservatives struggled to adapt their image to appeal to this younger demographic.
Douglas-Home was seen as aristocratic and remote, selected through consultation among Conservative elites rather than democratic process.
In an age of meritocracy and rising social mobility, his privileged background contrasted sharply with Wilson’s grammar school education. This reinforced the view that the Conservatives were governing in an outmoded, class-bound style.
The Liberals, under Jo Grimond, presented themselves as a fresh, alternative voice in politics.
They did not win many seats but attracted a significant share of votes, particularly from disillusioned Conservatives.
By splitting the non-Labour vote, the Liberals indirectly helped Labour gain seats, hastening the decline of Conservative control.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Give two reasons why the Conservative Party’s reputation suffered in the early 1960s.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for each valid reason identified, up to 2 marks.
Acceptable points include:
Economic difficulties such as balance of payments deficits or stop-go economics.
Scandals, e.g., the Profumo Affair, Vassall case, or Argyll divorce case.
Outdated leadership image, e.g., Alec Douglas-Home’s aristocratic background.
Perception of being disconnected from a changing, modernising electorate.
Question 2 (5 marks)
Explain how Labour’s leadership under Harold Wilson helped the party overcome internal divisions by 1964.
Mark Scheme:
Level 1 (1–2 marks): Basic description, e.g., Wilson became leader in 1963, or mention of divisions without linking to leadership.
Level 2 (3–4 marks): Clear explanation showing understanding of Wilson’s role, e.g., Wilson projected a modernising image, contrasted with Douglas-Home, reduced factional conflict.
Level 3 (5 marks): Developed explanation with specific detail, e.g., Wilson managed disputes between Bevanites and Gaitskellites, emphasised the “white heat of the technological revolution,” presented Labour as a credible governing party despite disagreements over nuclear weapons and relations with the USA.
Marks are awarded for both knowledge of Labour’s internal divisions and the ways in which Wilson’s leadership style mitigated these divisions.
