How Did Attlee Develop Labour
Attlee and labour were successful in developing a New Jerusalem in Britain by 1951. Asses the validity of this statement.
Following 5 years as a successful wartime leader, powerful Winston Churchill was defeated by a landslide victory from Labour in 1945. New Prime Minister Clement Attlee had ambitious plans to form a New Jerusalem by implementing the Beveridge Report and its plans for creating a welfare state.
After World War Two the country was in tatters. After enduring 6 years of total war the British people wanted pay back and change. The public did not want to return to the era of World War One when they were promised a 'land fit for heroes'; which never materialised. People voted for Attlee, in spite of admiring Churchill as a hero. The majority believed that a Labour government would be more likely to pursue a programme of social reform. It is undeniable that the formation of the National Health Service by Aneurin Bevan was a sign of moving towards a New Jerusalem. The whole population was given free access to general practitioners and to services such as maternity care and dentistry. The NHS is still available in the current day which is …show more content…
Soon after the NHS was set up, charges were placed on false teeth and spectacles because it exceeded its budget by 40% in the first 2 years. Prescription charges were also imposed which particularly created hardship for the poor and disadvantaged creating inequality. Britain had to borrow heavily to fund this project. Which did not help the economy considering by the end of the war Britain owed 3 ½ billion pounds to other nations making them the world’s largest debtor nation. Historian Corelli Barnett argues prioity should have been given to financial recovery and investment in the nation’s infrastructure. This would mean Britain could re-establish itself as a major manufacturing economy. Germany delayed the welfare state until it achieved industrial
Following 5 years as a successful wartime leader, powerful Winston Churchill was defeated by a landslide victory from Labour in 1945. New Prime Minister Clement Attlee had ambitious plans to form a New Jerusalem by implementing the Beveridge Report and its plans for creating a welfare state.
After World War Two the country was in tatters. After enduring 6 years of total war the British people wanted pay back and change. The public did not want to return to the era of World War One when they were promised a 'land fit for heroes'; which never materialised. People voted for Attlee, in spite of admiring Churchill as a hero. The majority believed that a Labour government would be more likely to pursue a programme of social reform. It is undeniable that the formation of the National Health Service by Aneurin Bevan was a sign of moving towards a New Jerusalem. The whole population was given free access to general practitioners and to services such as maternity care and dentistry. The NHS is still available in the current day which is …show more content…
Soon after the NHS was set up, charges were placed on false teeth and spectacles because it exceeded its budget by 40% in the first 2 years. Prescription charges were also imposed which particularly created hardship for the poor and disadvantaged creating inequality. Britain had to borrow heavily to fund this project. Which did not help the economy considering by the end of the war Britain owed 3 ½ billion pounds to other nations making them the world’s largest debtor nation. Historian Corelli Barnett argues prioity should have been given to financial recovery and investment in the nation’s infrastructure. This would mean Britain could re-establish itself as a major manufacturing economy. Germany delayed the welfare state until it achieved industrial