A Sixties Social Revolution?

THE ECONOMY IN THE 1950s Rationing ended in 1954 - higher standard of living. Population growth - from 1951-61 the population had increased by 5%. Post-war economy BOOM - increased trade, plentiful employment. Employment and Industry No. of people in traditional industries decreased. Expansion in electrical and engineering work as well as cars, steel and other metals. Service industries expanded (invisible industries). Nearly 5 million people were employed in the service industry  by 1960. Main epicentres of trade were London and Birmingham. Economic growth - rising wages and full employment. Cultural change - older people found they had more disposable income and young people wanted to enjoy life. 'never had it so good.' - 1957Was Macmillan being pragmatic and warning people that this lifestyle could not be maintained, or was he embracing the new way of life without austerity and rationing.Problems of Economic GrowthGrowth in wages outstripped the rate of production. People had more money in their pockets to spend on fewer goods which led to inflation and the value of earnings decreased.Macmillan's main priority - $64,000 question - how could he maintain growth but keep prices steady?Illusion of ProsperityBritain had a higher income per head than any other major country (except the US), but its growth rates did not exceed those of elsewhere.High salaries created high consumer demand that wasn't met by Britain's industry - increased imports.British manufacturers struggled to increase exports - products were expensive to cover high costs for wages.High salaries made workers complacent - low productivity.Mac's SolutionsHe wanted workers to do without wage rises, but trade unions did not because they were struggling to maintain their pre-war position.Government controls (fiscal measures) were used to restrain excessive inflation.Taxation was high - control excessive spending and pay for high costs of public expenditure on health.'To maintain the British economy at the right level...is like bicycling along a tightrope.' - Macmillan 1964'Stop-Go' EconomicsAttempts to control the economy.1. Accelerator - encourage spending - 1958 hire purchase controls were relaxed. This leads to inflation and overseas imports growing too much.2. Brakes - slow down spending - 1960 reintroduction of restrictions on hire purchase.

AGE OF AFFLUENCE1959 ELECTIONBritain had been led by Conservatives since 1951. Labour had been in from 1945-51 but was torn apart by arguments about the direction of the party. The 1959 election was the third victory in a row for the Conservatives.Why did the Conservatives win the '59 election?Conservative Strengths: Macmillan - strong leader who could make difficult decisions. They aligned to centrist ideas - Middle England and swing voters. £350 million tax cuts before the election. They reminded the electorate of economic growth, high wages and low inflation under the Conservatives. Played on communist fears - Labour's nationalisation. Labour Weaknesses: Identified with the working class rather than the majority. Public did not want nationalisation of industries. Gaitskell was not supported by his own party- identity crisis. Labour Strengths: They wanted to prevent a nuclear war - unilateral nuclear disarmament. Gaitskell established Labour as a credible party. Circumstances: 40% of manual workers now considered themselves middle class. Timing - it was a time of economic growth. People remembered the austerity of the Labour government. THE ESTABLISHMENTHarold Macmillan1st Earl of Stockton.Educated at Eton and Oxford.Married to Lady Dorothy Cavendish - daughter of 9th Duke of Devonshire.Alec Douglas-Home14th Earl of Home.Educated at Eton and Oxford.His mother was great-great-grandaughter of PM Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.Macmillan's government was based on nepotism - 35 of his 85 ministers were related to him.Attacks on the EstablishmentJohn Osbourne1956 - 'Look Back in Anger' - angry young man generation.His work was characterised by outspoken dissatisfaction with the establishment. His work championed the working classes but his characters were well educated, intelligent and articulate but were denied opportunities due to their social class.That Was The Week That WasGroundbreaking in its mocking of the establishment. Macmillan originally supported the programme but during the Profumo Affair he became one of the programme's biggest victims.Beyond the FringeSynonymous with the 60s satire boom. Opened the gates for young people to breathe life into British comedy.1964 - Peter Cook's impersonation of Macmillan had lost its topicality but was cutting.Bennett delivered his trademark parody of awful church sermons.The Profumo AffairJuly 1961 - John and Valerie Profumo go to a country estate. Here, they meet Ward and Keeler. Profumo and Keeler's affair begins. Keeler's loved Ivanov - government warned Profumo of the risk and he ended the affair.March 1963 - John Edgecombe attempts to shoot Keeler. 21st March, Profumo called to House of Commons - he denies any misconduct.May/June 1963 - Profumo exposed as Keeler's lover. Profumo resigns on 4th June.

BACKGROUND

political framework 1959-64