The Age of Consensus | 7 | Domestic Affairs, 1945–1979

ABSTRACT

This chapter covers the political events within Britain in the 34 years following the end of the Second World War. It is a period that has become known as ‘the Age of Consensus’, as a result of the reforms carried out by the Labour government that won the election in 1945. These welfare, economic and political reforms were not significantly reversed by the 11 years of Conservative government which followed Labour’s defeat in the 1951 election. It is therefore largely agreed that there was a general agreement among the political parties as to what should be the principles of governing Britain, although there were bitter disputes between and within the parties on how best to achieve this. By the mid 1970s however, Britain appeared to be facing a political crisis caused by the economic weaknesses of the country. This led to the emergence of the first party leader to radically challenge the consensus – Margaret Thatcher. Her victory in the 1979 election in many ways marked the end of post-war British history.

The Attlee governments 1945–51

Introduction

‘Slaying the giants’ – the welfare reforms

The economy

Decline and fall – the 1950 and 1951 elections

The Conservatives in power 1951–64

Labour under Wilson 1964–70

Heath’s government 1970–74

Wilson and Callaghan 1974–79

Attlee’s government 1945–51

The dominance of the Conservatives 1951–64

Labour in power, 1964–70

Britain in the 1970s

Northern Ireland 1969–79

The rise of Margaret Thatcher

The formation of the National Health Service

The IMF loan, 1976

The Labour government, 1964–70

The winter of discontent, 1979

Comparing historical interpretations

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