Labour Government 1945Labour Government 1945

Labour’s Election victory in 1945

Reorganisation of the party by Attlee after he became leader in 1935

Labour’s policies, in particular their support for the Beveridge Report

Social change during the Second World War reduced class boundaries and increased the desire for radical reform

Experience of Labour Ministers (Attlee, Bevin, Morrison, Greenwood, Dalton even Cripps) in organising the Home Front

Memories of the failure to build homes fit for heroes after the First World War.

Churchill was distracted by foreign affairs, particularly the threat of Stalin and the USSR.

Churchill’s mistake in linking Labour with the Gestapo.

Conservative campaign focused too closely on Churchill’s personality

Timeline of Welfare RerformsTimeline of Welfare Rerforms

► 1944 Butler Education Act► Made secondary education

free up to age 15 ► Tripartite system of ► Grammar schools► Secondary Moderns► Technical colleges► Youth Employment Service

set up► 1945 Family Allowance Act ► The Family Allowances Act

provides a regular sum for second and subsequent children to be paid to the mother.

► Main criticisms of Butler Act

► Quality varied geographically

► 11 plus was not identifying most able, simply selecting the require number to attend the grammar schools

► The system was very divisive

► Secondary moderns were second class.

► Labour had missed an opportunity to introduce a comprehensive system

► National Insurance Act 1946

► Extended the 1911 Act by covering all adults

► Compulsory scheme► In return for a weekly

contribution individuals were entitled to

► Sickness, unemployment benefit, old age pensions widow’s and orphans pensions, maternity allowances and death grants

► Industrial Injuries Act

► Compulsory contributions from employer and employee for a fund to pay compensation to injured workers and pensions for the disabled.

► New Towns Act► Gave government

power to decide where new towns should be built and set up development corporations to carry out the projects.

► Aimed at creating towns which were pleasant to live in.

► Town and Country Planning Act

► Gave the job of planning to the county authorities.

► They were given powers of compulsory purchase, rights over historic buildings

► Trades Disputes Act► Repealed legislation of

1926 introduced after the General Strike

► Political levy now legal again

► Individuals had to “contract out” if they did not wish to make a financial contribution to the Labour party.

► National Assistance Act► Designed to cover anyone

not picked up in National Insurance Act

► E.G. deaf, crippled, unmarried mothers.

► National Assistance Boards set up to whom you could apply for assistance

► Money was provided from government through taxation and took poverty away from being an issue dealt with by local authorities.

► Govt. gave local authorities task of providing homes and welfare services for elderly and handicapped.