Why did Labour win 1945 election?

The period of 1945-1951 was one of the most formative in the whole time period. Following a 10% increase in votes for Labour in 1945 (compared to 1935), Labour came into power, although in a minority government. Labour stayed in powe for 6 years and during this time, Labour introduced the welfare state and nationalised a significant part of the industrial economy. In the process, the Labour government set a pattern that was largely followed by all suceeding governments before 1979.

Key Dates:
1945 - Overwhelming Labour election vicotry; Family Allowances Act
1946 - National Insurance Act; Industrial Injuries Act; Nationalisation of coal, civil aviation, Cable and Wireless and Bank of England
1946-47 - Severe winter intensified government austerity measures
1947 - Independent nuclear deterrent development; Nationalism of road transport and electricity services; Independence of India
1948 - NHS incepted; National Assistance Act; Britain starts to recieve Marshall Plan Aid
1949 - Nationalism of iron and steel; Devaluation of the pound
1950 - Start of Korean War; Election reduced Labour majority to 5 seats
1951 - Bevanite rebellion over prescription charges; Election sucess for Conservatives, but Labour gained highest popular vote yet
Labour gained a massive majority of 180 seats over Conservatives and 148 seats overall
= 47.8% of the vote won by Labour, compared to 39.8% won by Conservatives, and gained 10% more of the vote than during the 1935 election
However, still had a minority government.....
Why did Labour win the 1945 election?
- Churchill popular as wartime, not peacetime, leader
- Conservatives still associated with 1930s depression
- Conservatives had not understood needs of 'ordinary' people
- Inability of Conservatives to manage economy and unemployment in 1930s
- Labour view of post-war construction
- Imbalance in electoral system worked in Labour's favour
= more a Conservative lost, rather than Labour won
Leading members of Attlee's Government
BEVIN - right wing Labour party member and trade unionist
             - fought against Communist infiltration of unions and party
             - Foreign Secretary between 1945 and 1950 = Cold War
             - his pro-American and anti-Soviet stance was the essential position adopted by Britain          throughout the Cold War

CRIPPS - strong pro-Communist leanings
              - helped prepare the way to Indian independence
              - Chancellor of the Exchequer during the period of austerity after 1947

MORRISON - served as Home Secretary throughout the war
                      - running fued with Bevan
                      - lost to Attlee in 1935 leadership election
                      - served as Deputy PM 1945-51, then briefly Foreign Secretary before deputy leader of the part 1951-55

DALTON - major contribution to Labour's nationalisation programme
                 - had to resign as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1947 after incautiously leaking some of his budget plans

BEVAN - dominant figure of the left
               - created NHS in 1948
               - defeated for the leadership of party after Attlee's retirement in 1955 by Gaitskell