Assess The Significance Of The Beveridge Report To The Labour Party
When the Second World War ended, Winston Churchill (A Conservative, elected after the resignation of Neville Chamberlain) was regarded as a formidable war hero for his time as Prime Minister from 1940 - 1945. This is what made the 1945 general election results - which showed that the national government, which was dominated by the Conservative Party during Churchill’s time as Prime Minister, had lost the election to the Labour Party - surprising, because Churchill’s leadership was a major factor in Britain holding off against Nazi Germany. The Labour Party (Lead by Clement Attlee) won the 1945 general election instead of the Conservatives, gaining nearly 12 million votes and an additional 239 seats, which was a significant increase to the Conservatives
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210 seats. There is a whole range of factors, which led to the Labour Party winning the 1945 general election, these factors include Churchill’s focus on cleaning up after the war, successful Labour politicians during the war and the Beveridge Report in 1942 which highlighted the 'Five Giants'.
During the Second World War, despite the Conservative dominated national government ruling, there were many Labour politicians whose actions during the war vastly helped the Labour Party win in the 1954 general election. One such politician was Clement Attlee, who was the leader of the Labour Party for 20 years and went on to become Prime Minister of Great Britain during 1945 - 1951 before being succeeded by Churchill once again. During the war period he was Churchill’s Deputy-Prime-Minister from 1942 - 1945 and would often go to parliament in Churchill’s place when he was busy with more pressing matters. During the war Attlee had many responsibilities as well as being the Deputy-Prime-Minster, he was Lord Privy Seal, the Lord President of the Council and even Dominions Secretary. Attlee, among other wartime Labour Politicians, had proved his abilities during his time as Deputy-Prime-Minister so he was a big factor in the victory of the Labour Party in the 1945 general election, as well as being the obvious choice for the Prime Minister when Britain had the Labour Government.
In the year 1942 Sir William Beveridge presented the 'Beveridge Report' to parliament.
The report provided a number of principles, which would help eradicate poverty from Britain. Beveridge, in his report, aimed to provide Britain with better, much more comprehensive social insurance from the "cradle to grave", an expression Beveridge used to show they'd have this social insurance their whole lives. The Labour Party was highly in favour of putting the Beveridge Report into action and used this as part of their reform. The Beveridge Report also showed what Sir William referred to as the 'Five Giants', Want; Disease; Ignorance; Squalor; Idleness. The 'Five Giants' in Beveridge's report were the major social and economic problems present in Britain at the time. 'Want' aimed to provide cash benefits to the people who needed them; 'Disease' aimed to provide the National Health Service; Ignorance aimed to provide free compulsory education; Squalor aimed to help people who were homeless due to the war by providing more houses; Idleness aimed to provide full employment. These were all major issues during wartime Britain and the Labour Party's support in their cleansing was a huge factor in their victory at the 1945 general
election.
Overall, the Labour Party's victory in the 1945 general election was a combination of several factors including the tackling of the 'Five Giants' introduced in the Beveridge Report in 1942. On the one hand some would say that Labour politicians (the likes of Clement Attlee and Aneurin Bevan) who had proved themselves during the war-period were responsible for the Labour Party winning over many of the Conservatives seats and therefore winning the election. On the other hand some would say that the Labour Party being in favour of the Beveridge report as a plan for reform - which would tackle the main problems that the public were facing - was successful in helping them win the 1945 general election. In conclusion, there were a number of contributing factors, which lead to the Labour Party winning the general election in 1945.
210 seats. There is a whole range of factors, which led to the Labour Party winning the 1945 general election, these factors include Churchill’s focus on cleaning up after the war, successful Labour politicians during the war and the Beveridge Report in 1942 which highlighted the 'Five Giants'.
During the Second World War, despite the Conservative dominated national government ruling, there were many Labour politicians whose actions during the war vastly helped the Labour Party win in the 1954 general election. One such politician was Clement Attlee, who was the leader of the Labour Party for 20 years and went on to become Prime Minister of Great Britain during 1945 - 1951 before being succeeded by Churchill once again. During the war period he was Churchill’s Deputy-Prime-Minister from 1942 - 1945 and would often go to parliament in Churchill’s place when he was busy with more pressing matters. During the war Attlee had many responsibilities as well as being the Deputy-Prime-Minster, he was Lord Privy Seal, the Lord President of the Council and even Dominions Secretary. Attlee, among other wartime Labour Politicians, had proved his abilities during his time as Deputy-Prime-Minister so he was a big factor in the victory of the Labour Party in the 1945 general election, as well as being the obvious choice for the Prime Minister when Britain had the Labour Government.
In the year 1942 Sir William Beveridge presented the 'Beveridge Report' to parliament.
The report provided a number of principles, which would help eradicate poverty from Britain. Beveridge, in his report, aimed to provide Britain with better, much more comprehensive social insurance from the "cradle to grave", an expression Beveridge used to show they'd have this social insurance their whole lives. The Labour Party was highly in favour of putting the Beveridge Report into action and used this as part of their reform. The Beveridge Report also showed what Sir William referred to as the 'Five Giants', Want; Disease; Ignorance; Squalor; Idleness. The 'Five Giants' in Beveridge's report were the major social and economic problems present in Britain at the time. 'Want' aimed to provide cash benefits to the people who needed them; 'Disease' aimed to provide the National Health Service; Ignorance aimed to provide free compulsory education; Squalor aimed to help people who were homeless due to the war by providing more houses; Idleness aimed to provide full employment. These were all major issues during wartime Britain and the Labour Party's support in their cleansing was a huge factor in their victory at the 1945 general
election.
Overall, the Labour Party's victory in the 1945 general election was a combination of several factors including the tackling of the 'Five Giants' introduced in the Beveridge Report in 1942. On the one hand some would say that Labour politicians (the likes of Clement Attlee and Aneurin Bevan) who had proved themselves during the war-period were responsible for the Labour Party winning over many of the Conservatives seats and therefore winning the election. On the other hand some would say that the Labour Party being in favour of the Beveridge report as a plan for reform - which would tackle the main problems that the public were facing - was successful in helping them win the 1945 general election. In conclusion, there were a number of contributing factors, which lead to the Labour Party winning the general election in 1945.