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
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