‘Conservative electoral success in the years 1951-1964 was mainly due to rising living standards’ Assess the validity of this view

AGREE-DUE TO RISING LIVING STANDARDS Increase in weekly wages, more affluence seen through cars and TVs, the use of give away budgets by the Conservative chancellors such as - £134 million in 1955 and £370 in 1959 (60 seat to 100 seat majority). End of rationing in 1954. Worth noting the post war consensus was a continuation of Labour policy, mixed economy, full employment, NHS, welfare state and union relations AGREE-DUE TO CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP Super Mac and his 100 seat majority 1959Eden attractive and his expertise Churchill being the war leader DISAGREE- DUE TO LABOUR DISUNITY Disagreement over nuclear weapons and Clause IV nationalisation The take over from Atlee, Gaitskell. Tensions with the unions over nuclear weapons. Post war consensus meant Labour agreed with the policiesCONCLUSION-Increasing living standards exacerbated by labour disunity. Conservatives increasingly out of touch and Labour increasing credible led to the 1964 election victory of Harold Wilson.