Post-war consensus

The post-war consensus was an era in British political history which lasted from the end of World War Two to the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979.

Related Topics:
World War Two - Margaret Thatcher - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - 1979

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The foundations of the post-war consensus can be traced to the reports of William Beveridge, who in 1944 formulated the concept of a more comprehensive welfare state in the United Kingdom. Shortly after the surrender of Germany in May 1945, a general election was held in the UK. The result was a landslide victory for the Labour Party, whose leader was Clement Attlee. The policies undertaken and implemented by this Labour government laid the base of the consensus.

Related Topics:
William Beveridge - Welfare state - United Kingdom - Germany - 1945 - Labour Party - Clement Attlee

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The post-war consensus can be characterised as a belief in Keynesian economics, a mixed economy with the nationalisation of major industries, the establishment of the National Health Service and the creation of the modern welfare state in Britain. Such policies were instituted by all governments (both Labour and Conservative) in the post-war period. Even though the Labour government of James Callaghan were forced to abandon Keynesian economics by the IMF in 1976, other aspects of the consensus continued.

Related Topics:
Keynesian - Mixed economy - National Health Service - James Callaghan - IMF

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However, in the 1970's the consensus was increasingly seen by those on the right wing as being the cause of the UK's relative economic decline. Believers in New Right political beliefs saw their ideology as the solution to Britain's economic dilemmas in the 1970's. As a consequence, the Conservative party won the 1979 general election, thus bringing to an end the post-war consensus.

Related Topics:
Right wing - New Right - Conservative party

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See also: Butskellism.

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