Attlee ministry
Attlee ministries | |
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![]() Cabinet of the United Kingdom | |
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![]() Attlee (1950) | |
Date formed |
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Date dissolved |
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People and organisations | |
Monarch | George VI |
Prime Minister | Clement Attlee |
Prime Minister's history | 1945–1951 |
Deputy Prime Minister | Herbert Morrison |
Totalno.of members | 243 appointments |
Member party | Labour Party |
Status in legislature | Majority 393 / 640 (61%) (1945)315 / 625 (50%) (1950) |
Opposition party | Conservative Party |
Opposition leader | Winston Churchill |
History | |
Elections | |
Outgoing election | 1951 general election |
Legislature terms | |
Predecessor | Churchill caretaker ministry |
Successor | Third Churchill ministry |
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Labour Leader
Prime Minister
Post-Prime Minister
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Clement Attleewas invited by KingGeorge VIto form theAttlee ministryin the United Kingdom in July 1945,[1]succeedingWinston ChurchillasPrime Minister of the United Kingdom.TheLabour Partyhad won a landslide victory at the1945 general election,and went on to enact policies of what became known as thepost-war consensus,including the establishment of thewelfare stateand the nationalisation of 20 percent of the entire economy.[2]The government's spell in office was marked by post-war austerity measures; the crushing of pro-independence and communist movements inMalaya;the grant ofindependence to India, Pakistan, Ceylon, and Burma;the engagement in theCold Waragainst Soviet Communism; and the creation of the country'sNational Health Service(NHS).
Attlee went on to win a narrow majority at the1950 general election,forming thesecond Attlee ministry.[3]Just twenty months after that election, Attlee calleda new electionfor 25 October 1951, but was narrowly defeated by theConservative Party,sending Labour into a 13-year spell in opposition.
Leaders
[edit]TheLabour Partycame to power following its unexpected landslide victory in theJuly 1945 general election.Party leaderClement Attleebecame prime minister replacingWinston Churchillin late July.Ernest BevinwasForeign Secretaryuntil shortly before his death in April 1951.Hugh DaltonbecameChancellor of the Exchequer,but had to resign in 1947, whileJames Chuter EdewasHome Secretary.[4]
Other notable figures in the government included:Herbert Morrison,Deputy Prime MinisterandLeader of the House of Commons,who replaced Bevin as Foreign Secretary in March 1951; SirStafford Crippswas initiallyPresident of the Board of Tradebut replaced Dalton as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1947;Hugh Gaitskellheld several minor posts before replacing Cripps as Chancellor in 1950;Nye BevanwasMinister of Health;Arthur GreenwoodwasLord Privy SealandPaymaster Generalwhile future Prime MinisterHarold Wilsonbecame the youngest member of the cabinet in the 20th century (at the age of 31) when he was madePresident of the Board of Tradein 1947. The most notable of the few female members of the government wasEllen Wilkinson,who wasMinister of Educationuntil her early death in 1947.
Policies
[edit]It was an "age of austerity", as wartime rationing was continued despite the Allied Forces' victory, and was even expanded upon to include bread. Living conditions were poor; instead of expansion, the country's task was to replace the national wealth destroyed or used up during the war. The Great Depression did not return, and full employment was created. Returning veterans were successfully reabsorbed into the postwar society.[5]The Attlee government nationalised about 20% of the economy, including coal, railways, road transport, the Bank of England, civil aviation, electricity and gas, and steel. There was little money for investment to modernise these industries, and control was kept by the government, rather than passed to union members. The Attlee government greatly expanded the welfare state, with theNational Health Service Act 1946,which nationalised the hospitals and provided for free universal healthcare. TheNational Insurance Act 1946provided sickness and unemployment benefits for adults, plus retirement pensions.
The National Assistance scheme established under theNational Assistance Act 1948(11 & 12 Geo. 6.c. 29) provided for discretionary weekly additions to meet special circumstances like diets and laundry expenses, while at the discretion of the National Assistance Board ‘Exceptional needs grants’ (lump sum payments to meet expenditure arising from special categories of need) were also available. In addition, “Rent was treated as a separate item of requirement: householders would generally receive their net rent in full, whilst non-householders would receive a ‘reasonable share’ of the rent paid by the householder, subject to upper and lower limits.”[6]The National Assistance (Determination of Need) Regulations of 1948 laid down various entitlements to beneficiaries, such as a scale for blind and certain tuberculous patients and provision for applicants in local authority homes. A weekly sum in respect of requirements for rent was allowed, which in the regulations referred to “the weekly rent, or a proportion thereof, appropriate to a week, excluding arrears thereof, and the weekly proportion of outgoings borne by the householder including, in particular, rates, a reasonable allowance towards any necessary expenditure on repairs or insurance, and such portion as is for the time being attributable to interest of any sum payable in respect of (61.) a mortgage debt or heritable security charged on the house in which the householder resides, or on nay interest therein.”[7]
Various disregards were also made under theNational Assistance Act 1948,including any death grant paid to a person under the provisions of section twenty-two of theNational Insurance Act 1946,any maternity grant to which a woman is entitled under section fourteen of the National Insurance Act 1946, the first ten shillings and sixpence a week of any payment of sick pay received from a friendly society or trade union, the first ten shillings and sixpence a week "of any superannuation payment or superannuation payments in respect of previous service or employment from which the recipient has retired or resigned (whether payable by a former employer or not), not being a payment or payments— (i) on account of a pension under the Old Age Pensions Act, 1936 or under or by virtue of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts, 1936 to 1941, or under any enactment repealed by any of those Acts, or (ii) on account of a retirement pension under the National Insurance Act, 1946," any payment "in respect of retired pay or pension to which section sixteen of the [9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 32.] Finance Act, 1919, applies, including any payment in respect of a dependants' allowance attached to such a pension," any payment "in respect of a disablement pension awarded under the [2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 82.] Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939, including, an increase in such a pension in respect of dependants," any weekly payment "by way of compensation under any enactment relating to workmen's compensation," any payment "by way of disablement benefit under section twelve of the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946."[8]
More council housing was built, and plans were made through theNew Towns Act 1946(9 & 10 Geo. 6.c. 68) for the growth of suburbs, and to reduce overcrowding in major cities such as London and Glasgow. Since there was little money for detailed planning, the government adopted Keynesianism, which allowed for planning in the sense of overall control of the national deficit and surplus.[9][10][11]Two laws written by the Conservatives during the war were expanded, theFamily Allowances Act 1945and theEducation Act 1944.
TheTransport Act 1947established theBritish Transport Commission,which took over control of the railways from theBig Four—Great Western Railway,London, Midland and Scottish Railway,London and North Eastern Railwayand theSouthern Railway—to formBritish Railways.[12]
In foreign affairs, the government was active in theUnited Nationsand negotiated a $5 billion loan from the United States and Canada in 1946. It eagerly joined theMarshall Planin 1948. It could no longer afford to support the Greek government and encouraged the U.S. to take its place through theTruman Doctrinein 1947. It took an active role in joining the United States in theCold Warand formingNATO.It gave independence to India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma and moved to strengthen theBritish Commonwealth.[13]
Nationalisation projects
[edit]- 1945–51
- The Labour Party comes to power with a programme for nationalising the essential sectors of the economy, some of which had been weakened during wartime: finance, heavy industry and natural resources, along with communication and transportation infrastructure.[14][15][16]
- 1946
- Coal industry under theNational Coal Board.[17]
- Bank of England.[18]
- National Health Servicecreated (with separate units inEngland,Wales,andScotlandand forNorthern Ireland) taking over hospitals and making medical services free. NHS started operations in 1948.[19][20]
- 1947
- British Electricity Authorityand area electricity boards.[21]
- Cable & Wireless.[22]
- 1948
- National rail, inland (not marine) water transport, some road haulage, some road passenger transport andThomas Cook & Sonunder theBritish Transport Commission.Separate elements operated asBritish Railways,British Road Services,andBritish Waterways.[23]
- 1949
- Local authority gas supply undertakingsin England, Scotland and Wales.[21]
- 1951
- Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain(privatised by the Conservative Government in 1955, and renationalised by Labour in 1967 asBritish Steel Corporation).[24][25][26]
Social policies
[edit]Health
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Trafford_General_Hospital_-_geograph.org.uk_-_21987.jpg/220px-Trafford_General_Hospital_-_geograph.org.uk_-_21987.jpg)
Attlee'sHealth Minister,Aneurin Bevan,fought hard against the general disapproval of the medical establishment, including theBritish Medical Association,by creating the National Health Service in 1948. This was apublicly funded healthcaresystem, which offered treatment for all, regardless of income, free of charge at the point of use. Reflecting pent-up demand that had long existed for medical services, the NHS treated some 8,500,000 dental patients and dispensed more than 5,000,000 pairs of spectacles during its first year of operation.[27]
Consultants benefited from the new system by being paid salaries that provided an acceptable standard of living without the need for them to resort to private practice.[28]The NHS brought major improvements in the health of working-class people, with deaths from diphtheria, pneumonia, and tuberculosis significantly reduced.[29]Although there were often disputes about its organisation and funding, British political parties continued to voice their general support for the NHS in order to remain electable.[30]
In the field of health care, funds were allocated to modernisation and extension schemes aimed at improving administrative efficiency. Improvements were made in nursing accommodation in order to recruit more nurses and reduce labour shortages which were keeping 60,000 beds out of use, and efforts were made to reduce the imbalance "between an excess of fever and tuberculosis (TB) beds and a shortage of maternity beds".[31]
BCG vaccinationswere introduced for the protection of medical students, midwives, nurses, and contacts of patients with tuberculosis,[32]a pension scheme was set up for employees of the newly established NHS,[33]The National Health Service (Superannuation) Regulations 1947 laid down a number of provisions for beneficiaries including an officer’s pension and retiring allowance, an injury allowance, a short service gratuity, a death gratuity, a widow’s pension, and supplementary payments in the case of special classes of officers. Provision was also made for the allocation of part of pension or injury allowance to spouse of dependent.[34]
TheRadioactive Substances Act 1948set out general provisions to control radioactive substances.[35]Numerous lesser reforms were also introduced, some of which were of great benefit to certain segments of British society, such as the mentally deficient and the blind.[36]Between 1948 and 1951, Attlee's government increased spending on health from £6,000,000,000 to £11,000,000,000: an increase of over 80%, and from 2.1% to 3.6% of GDP.[37]
Welfare
[edit]The government set about implementing the Wartime plans ofWilliam Beveridge's plans for the creation of a 'cradle to grave'welfare state,and set in place an entirely new system ofsocial security.Among the most important pieces of legislation was theNational Insurance Act 1946,in which people in work paid a flat rate ofnational insurance.In return, they (and the wives of male contributors) were eligible for flat-rate pensions, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, and funeral benefit.[38]Various provisions were included in theNational Insurance Act 1946including unemployment and sickness benefit, maternity grant and attendance allowance, maternity allowance, widow’s benefit, widow’s pensions in special cases, guardian’s allowance, retirement pension, and death grant.[39]
Various other pieces of legislation provided forchild benefitand support for people with no other source of income.[38]In 1949, unemployment, sickness and maternity benefits were exempted from taxation.[40]
A block grant introduced in 1948 helped the social services provided by local authorities.[41]Personal Social Services or welfare services were developed in 1948 for individual and families in general, particularly special groups such as the mentally disordered, deprived children, the elderly, and the handicapped.[42]
The Attlee Government increased pensions and other benefits, with pensions raised to become more of a living income than they had ever been. War pensions and allowances (for both World Wars) were increased by an act of 1946[which?]which gave the wounded man with an allowance for his wife and children if he married after he had been wounded, thereby removing a grievance of more than twenty years standing.[43]Other improvements were made in war pensions during Attlee's tenure as prime minister. A Constant Attendance Allowance was tripled, an Unemployability Allowance was tripled from 10s to 30s a week, and a special hardship allowance of up to £1 a week was introduced. In addition, the 1951 Budget made further improvements in the supplementary allowances for many war pensioners. From 1945 onwards, three out of every four pension claims had been successful, whilst after the First World War only one pension claim in three was allowed.[44]Under the Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1948, employees of a body representative of local authorities or of the officers of local authorities could be admitted "on suitable terms to the superannuation fund of a local authority".[45]In 1951, a comforts allowance was introduced that was automatically paid to war pensioners "receiving unemployability supplement and constant attendance allowance".[46]
The Personal injuries (Civilians) Scheme of 1947 included various benefits such as an exceptional maximum rate of constant attendance allowance of 40s a week, and an allowance for wear and tear of clothing caused by the use of artificial limbs and appliances. In addition, allowances payable while a pensioner underwent inpatient treatment “are normally no longer subject to a deduction in respect of decreased home expenditure.” Various changes were also made in respect of gainfully employed persons and civil defence volunteers who sustained war injuries. These included the provision of allowances for the wife and children for injured persons receiving injury allowance or disablement pension, amendments to the provisions for an allowance to a pensioner deemed unemployable by reason of his pensioned disablement “to secure that he receives in the aggregate by way of unemployability allowance and any social service benefits for which he is eligible at least 20s. a week in addition to his pension,” increases in the allowance payable for a wife of a person receiving treatment allowance, unemployability allowance or injury allowance under certain conditions and “if no allowance is payable for a wife, an allowance may be granted for a dependant adult,” and a social hardship allowance for partially disabled men “who, though not unemployable, is prevented by his pensioned disablement from resuming his former occupation or taking up one of equivalent standard.” Also, “Where a man dies as the direct result of a qualifying injury his widow may be awarded a pension (with allowances for his children) without regard to the date of marriage.”[47]
A more extensive system of social welfare benefits had been established by the Attlee Government, which did much to reduce acute social deprivation. The cumulative impact of the Attlee's Government's health and welfare policies was such that all the indices of health (such as statistics of school medical or dental officers, or of medical officers of health) showed signs of improvement, with continual improvements in survival rates for infants and increased life expectancy for the elderly.[41]The success of the Attlee Government's welfare legislation in reducing poverty was such that, in the general election of 1950, according to one study, "Labour propaganda could make much of the claim that social security had eradicated the most abject destitution of the 1930s".[27]
Housing and planning
[edit]TheNew Towns Act 1946(9 & 10 Geo. 6.c. 68) set up development corporations to construct new towns, while theTown and Country Planning Act 1947instructed county councils to prepare development plans and also provided compulsory purchase powers.[48]The Attlee Government also extended the powers of local authorities to requisition houses and parts of houses, and made the acquisition of land less difficult than before.[49]The Housing (Scotland) Act 1949 provided grants of 75% (87.5% in the Highlands and Islands) towards modernisation costs payable by the Treasury to local authorities.[50]
In 1949, local authorities were empowered to provide people suffering from poor health withpublic housingatsubsidised rents.[51]
To assist home ownership, the limit on the amount of money that people could borrow from their local authority in order to purchase or build a home was raised from £800 to £1,500 in 1945, and to £5,000 in 1949.[52]Under theNational Assistance Act 1948(11 & 12 Geo. 6.c. 29), local authorities had a duty "to provide emergency temporary accommodation for families which become homeless through no fault of their own".[53]
A large house-building programme was carried out with the intention of providing millions of people with high-quality homes.[27]AHousing actincreased Treasury subsidies for the construction of local authority housing in England and Wales.[48]Four out of five houses constructed under Labour were council properties built to more generous specifications than before theSecond World War,and subsidies kept down council rents. Altogether, these policies provided public-sector housing with its biggest ever boost up until that point, while low-wage earners particularly benefited from these developments. Although the Attlee Government failed to meet its targets, primarily due to economic constraints, over 1,000,000 new homes were built between 1945 and 1951 (a significant achievement under the circumstances) which ensured that decent, affordable housing was available to many low-income families for the first time ever.[27]
Development rights were nationalised while the government attempted to take all development profits for the state. Strong planning authorities were set up to control land use, and issued manuals of guidance which stressed the importance of safeguarding agricultural land. A strong chain of regional offices was set up within its planning ministry to provide a strong lead in regional development policies.[54]Comprehensive Development Areas (CDAs), a designation under theTown and Country Planning Act 1947,allowed local authorities to acquire property in the designated areas using powers of compulsory purchase in order to re-plan and develop urban areas suffering from urban blight or war damage.[55]
Women and children
[edit]A number of reforms were embarked upon to improve conditions for women and children. In 1946, universal family allowances were introduced to provide financial support to households for raising children.[56][57]These benefits had been legislated for the previous year by Churchill'sFamily Allowances Act 1945,and was the first measure pushed through parliament by Attlee's government.[58]The Conservatives would later criticise Labour for having been "too hasty" in introducing family allowances.[49]
The Married Women (Restraint Upon Anticipation) Act 1949 was passed in order to "to equalise, to render inoperative any restrictions upon anticipation or alienation attached to the enjoyment of property by a woman", while the Married Women (Maintenance) Act 1949 was enacted with the intention of improving the adequacy and duration of financial benefits for married women.[59]
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 1950 amended theCriminal Law Amendment Act 1885to bring prostitutes within the law and safeguard them from abduction and abuse.[60]TheCriminal Justice Act 1948restricted imprisonment for juveniles and brought improvements to the probation and remand centre systems, while the passage of the Justices of the Peace Act 1949 led to extensive reforms of magistrates courts.[61]The Attlee Government also abolished the marriage bar in theCivil Service,thereby enabling married women to work in that institution.[62]
In 1946, the government set up a National Institute of Houseworkers as a means of providing a socially democratic variety of domestic service.[63]
By late 1946, agreed standards of training were established, which was followed by the opening of a training headquarters and the opening of an additional nine training centres in Wales, Scotland, and then nationwide throughout Great Britain. TheNational Health Service Act 1946indicated that domestic help should be provided for households where that help is required "owing to the presence of any person who is ill, lying-in, an expectant mother, mentally defective, aged or a child not over compulsory school age". 'Home help' therefore included the provision of home-helps for nursing and expectant mothers and for mothers with children under the age of five, and by 1952 some 20,000 women were engaged in this service.[64]
Workers' rights
[edit]Various measures were carried out to improve conditions in the workplace. Entitlement to sick leave was greatly extended, and sick pay schemes were introduced for local authority administrative, professional and technical workers in 1946 and for various categories of manual workers in 1948.[65]Workers' compensationwas also significantly improved.[66]ANational Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946was introduced that included various provisions like injury benefit, disablement benefit, increases of disablement pension in cases of unemployability, special hardship, constant attendance, and during approval hospital treatment, and increases of injury benefit and disablement pension in respect of children and adult dependents.[67]
The Fair Wages Resolution of 1946 required any contractor working on a public project to at least match the pay rates and other employment conditions set in the appropriate collective agreement.[68][69][70]In 1946,Purchase Taxwas removed completely from kitchen fittings and crockery, while the rate was reduced on various gardening items.[63]TheEmployment and Training Act 1948included provisions such as provisions as to training for employment as well as payments towards the cost of removing and resettling workers[71]
TheFire Services Act 1947introduced a new pension scheme for firefighters,[72]while theElectricity Act 1947introduced better retirement benefits for workers in that industry.[73]TheWorkers' Compensation (Supplementation) Act 1948and introduced benefits for workers with certain asbestos-related diseases which had occurred before 1948.[74]TheMerchant Shipping Act 1948and theMerchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1949were passed to improve conditions for seamen. TheShops Act 1950consolidated previous legislation which provided that no one could be employed in a shop for more than six hours without having a break for at least 20 minutes. The legislation also required a lunch break of at least 45 minutes for anyone for worked between 11:30am and 2:30pm, and a half-hour tea break for anyone working between 4pm and 7pm.[75]The government also strengthened a Fair Wages Resolution, with a clause that required all employers getting government contracts to recognise the rights of their workers to join trade unions.[76]
TheTrades Disputes Act 1927was repealed, and a Dock Labour Scheme was introduced in 1947 to put an end to the casual system of hiring labour in the docks.[77]This scheme gave registered dockers the legal right to minimum work and decent conditions. Through the National Dock Labour Board (on which trade unions and employers had equal representation) the unions acquired control over recruitment and dismissal. Registered dockers laid off by employers within the Scheme had the right either to be taken on by another, or to generous compensation.[78]All dockers were registered under the Dock Labour Scheme, giving them a legal right to minimum work, holidays and sick pay.[79]
Wages for members of the police force were significantly increased.[80]The introduction of a Miner's Charter in 1946 instituted a five-day work week for miners and a standardised day wage structure,[41]and in 1948 a Colliery Workers Supplementary Scheme was approved, providing supplementary allowances to disabled coal-workers and their dependants.[81][82]Various benefits were provided under the scheme, including a supplementary injury benefit, a disablement pension in respect of a colliery accident or colliery disease, death benefits, and Supplementary allowances.[83]
In 1948, a pension scheme was set up to provide pension benefits for employees of the new NHS, as well as their dependents.[84]Under the Coal Industry Nationalisation (Superannuation) Regulations 1950, a pension scheme for mineworkers was established.[85]Improvements were also made in farmworkers' wages,[44]and theAgricultural Wages Boardin 1948 not only safeguarded wage levels, but also ensured that workers were provided with accommodation.[86]
A number of regulations aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of people at work were also introduced during Attlee's time in office. Regulations were issued in February 1946 applying to factories involved with "manufacturing briquettes or blocks of fuel consisting of coal, coal dust, coke or slurry with pitch as a binding.substance," and which concerned "dust and ventilation, washing facilities and clothing accommodation, medical supervision and examination, skin and eye protection and messrooms".[87]The Coal Mines (Ventilation) General Regulations dated 17 May 1947 "implement recommendations of the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines regarding two main topics: methods of checking periodically the general standard of ventilation and methods of minimising leakage of air. Provisions are laid down respecting determinations of firedamp content and methods by which these determinations are to be made."[88]The Radioactive Substances Act, dated 30 June 1948, "which regulates the importation, manufacture, sale, storage and use of radioactive substances, includes provisions empowering the appropriate Minister to issue regulations for the prevention of injuries to health caused by ionising radiations and for securing the safe disposal of radioactive waste products."[89]The Dry Cleaning Special Regulations, 1949 dated 29 November 1949 sought "to prohibit the use of liquids with a flash point below 32°C. (90°F.) from being used for dry cleaning otherwise than by spotting."[90]The Blasting (Castings and Other Articles) Special Regulations 1949, "prohibit sandblasting and deal with the blasting enclosure, the cleaning of used abrasive, ventilation plant, inspection, examination and maintenance of equipment, personal protective equipment and clothing, the cleaning of blasting equipment, the employment of young persons, and the reporting of defects in the equipment. Sandblasting is prohibited in Section 5, which reads:" No sand or other substance containing free silica shall be introduced as an abrasive into any blasting apparatus. "The Chief Inspector is empowered to grant exemptions from the regulations."[90]UK: The matters dealt with by the Jute (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations dated 21 July 1948 "include the lifting and carrying of loads by women and young persons, ventilation, temperature and humidity, welfare, construction and use of machinery and sale and hire of machinery".[89]
The Magnesium (Grinding of Castings and Other Articles) (Special Regulations) Order of December 1946 contained special measures "respecting the maintenance of plant and apparatus; precautions against causing sparks; the interception and removal of dust; automatic operation of appliances; protective clothing; and prohibition of smoking, open lights and fires".[91]For those workers engaged in luminising processes, the Factories (Luminising) Special Regulations (1947) prohibited the employment of those under the age of 18 and ordered "an initial medical examination to be carried out before the seventh day of employment; subsequent examinations are to be carried out once a month".Under the terms of the Blasting (Castings and Other Articles) Special Regulations (1949) "no sand or other substance containing free silica is to be employed in any blasting process", while the Foundries (Parting Materials) Special Regulations (1950) prohibited the use of certain parting powders "which give rise to a substantial risk of silicosis".[92]
The Building (Safety, Health & Welfare) Regulations 1948 required that measures should be taken to minimise exposure to potentially harmful dust or fumes,[93]while the Pottery (Health) Special Regulations (1947) prohibited the use "except in the manufacture of glazed tiles" of all "but leadless or low solubility glazes and prescribe certain processes in which ground or powdered flint or quartz are not to be employed".[92]The Pottery (Health and Welfare) Special Regulations 1950 made provision for the health and safety of workers employed in factories "in which there is carried on the manufacture or decoration of pottery or certain allied manufactures or processes".[94]
Law
[edit]Various law reforms were also carried out by Attlee's government. TheCriminal Justice Act 1948provided for new methods to deal with offenders, and abolished hard labour, penal servitude, prison divisions and whipping.[95]TheLaw Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948enabled employees to sue their employers in cases where they experienced injury due to the negligence of a fellow employee.[96]TheLegal Aid and Advice Act 1949introduced a state aided scheme to assist those who couldn't afford legal services.[97]The Witnesses Allowances Regulations 1948 provided for the payment of a professional witness allowance, a night allowance, and an expert witness allowance in certain cases.[98]
Post-war consensus
[edit]Most historians argue that the main domestic policies (except nationalisation of steel) reflected a broad bipartisan consensus. Thepost-war consensusis a historians' model of political agreement from 1945 to the late-1970s. In 1979 newly elected Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcherrejected and reversed it.[99]The concept claims there was a widespread consensus that covered support for coherent package of policies that were developed in the 1930s, promised during the Second World War, and enacted under Attlee. The policies dealt with a mixed economy, Keynesianism, and a broad welfare state.[100]In recent years the validity of the interpretation has been debated by historians.
The historians' model of the post-war consensus was most fully developed byPaul Addison.[101]The basic argument is that in the 1930s, Liberal Party intellectuals led byJohn Maynard Keynesand William Beveridge developed a series of plans that became especially attractive as the wartime government promised a much better post-war Britain and saw the need to engage every sector of society. The coalition government during the war, headed by Churchill and Attlee, signed off on a series of white papers that promised Britain a much improved welfare state. After the war, the promises included the National Health Service, and expansion of education, housing, and a number of welfare programmes. It did not include the nationalisation of iron and steel, which was approved only by the Labour Party.
The model states that from 1945 until the arrival of Thatcher in 1979, there was a broad multi-partisan national consensus on social and economic policy, especially regarding the welfare state, nationalised health services, educational reform, a mixed economy, government regulation, Keynesian macroeconomic policies, and full employment. Apart from the question of nationalisation of some industries, these policies were broadly accepted by the three major parties, as well as by industry, the financial community and the labour movement. Until the 1980s, historians generally agreed on the existence and importance of the consensus. Some historians such asRalph Milibandexpressed disappointment that the consensus was a modest or even conservative package that blocked a fully socialized society.[102]HistorianAngus Caldercomplained bitterly that the post-war reforms were an inadequate reward for the wartime sacrifices, and a cynical betrayal of the people's hope for a more just post-war society.[103]In recent years, there has been a historiographical debate on whether such a consensus ever existed.[104]
Fate
[edit]In theFebruary 1950 general electionthe Labour Party narrowly maintained their majority by just 5 seats. This was insufficient to govern however, due to the Bevanite split causing tensions in the party. Another general election was called in 1951 to try and increase their majority. However, in theOctober 1951 general electionsthe Conservatives returned to power under Winston Churchill. Labour was to remain out of office for the next thirteen years, until 1964, whenHarold Wilsonbecame prime minister.
Cabinets
[edit]First Attlee ministry
[edit]1945–1950
[edit]- Clement Attlee:Prime MinisterandMinister of Defence
- Herbert Morrison:Deputy Prime Minister,Lord President of the CouncilandLeader of the House of Commons
- The Viscount Jowitt:Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
- Arthur Greenwood:Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
- Hugh Dalton:Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Ernest Bevin:Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
- James Chuter Ede:Secretary of State for the Home Department
- George Hall:Secretary of State for the Colonies
- The Viscount Addison:Secretary of State for Dominion AffairsandLeader of the House of Lords
- The Lord Pethick-Lawrence:Secretary of State for India and Burma
- A. V. Alexander:First Lord of the Admiralty
- Jack Lawson:Secretary of State for War
- The Viscount Stansgate:Secretary of State for Air
- Ellen Wilkinson:Minister of Education
- Joseph Westwood:Secretary of State for Scotland
- Tom Williams:Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
- George Isaacs:Minister of Labour and National Service
- Aneurin Bevan:Minister of Health
- Sir Stafford Cripps:President of the Board of Trade
- Emanuel Shinwell:Minister of Fuel and Power
Changes
[edit]- July 1946 –Arthur GreenwoodbecomesPaymaster Generalas well asLord Privy Seal.
- October 1946 – The three service ministers (Secretary of State for War,Secretary of State for Air,andFirst Lord of the Admiralty) cease to be cabinet positions.A. V. Alexanderremains in the cabinet asMinister without Portfolio.George Hallreplaces A. V. Alexander as First Lord of the Admiralty, outside the cabinet.Arthur Creech Jonessucceeds Hall asSecretary of State for the Colonies.
- December 1946 – A. V. Alexander succeeds Attlee asMinister of Defence.
- February 1947 –George TomlinsonsucceedsEllen WilkinsonasMinister of Educationupon her death.
- March 1947 – Arthur Greenwood ceases to be Paymaster General, remaining Lord Privy Seal. His successor as Paymaster General is not in the cabinet.
- April 1947 – Arthur Greenwood becomes Minister without Portfolio.Lord Inmansucceeds Arthur Greenwood as Lord Privy Seal.William Francis Hare, Lord ListowelsucceedsLord Pethick-LawrenceasSecretary of State for India and Burma.
- July 1947 – TheDominion Affairs Officebecomes theOffice of Commonwealth Relations.Lord Addisonremains at the head.
- August 1947 – TheIndia and Burma Officebecomes theBurma OfficewithIndia's independence.Lord Listowel remains in office. Responsibility for relations with India and Pakistan themselves are transferred to Addison and the Commonwealth Relations Office.
- September 1947 – SirStafford CrippsbecomesMinister of Economic Affairs.Harold Wilsonsucceeds Cripps asPresident of the Board of Trade.Arthur Greenwood retires from theFront Bench.
- October 1947 – Lord Addison succeeds Lord Inman as Lord Privy Seal, remaining alsoLeader of the House of Lords.Philip Noel-Bakersucceeds Lord Addison asSecretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.Arthur WoodburnsucceedsJoseph WestwoodasSecretary of State for Scotland.TheMinister of Fuel and Power,Emanuel Shinwell,leaves the Cabinet.
- November 1947 – Sir Stafford Cripps succeedsHugh DaltonasChancellor of the Exchequer.
- January 1948 – The Burma Office is abolished withBurma's independence.
- May 1948 – Hugh Dalton re-enters the Cabinet asChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.Lord Pakenhamenters the Cabinet asMinister of Civil Aviation.
- July 1948 – Lord Addison becomes Paymaster General.
- April 1949 – Lord Addison ceases to be Paymaster General, remaining Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords. His successor as Paymaster General is not in the Cabinet.
Second Attlee ministry
[edit]1950–1951
[edit]- Clement Attlee:Prime Minister
- Herbert Morrison:Deputy Prime Minister,Lord President of the CouncilandLeader of the House of Commons
- The Viscount Jowitt:Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
- The Viscount Addison:Leader of the House of LordsandLord Keeper of the Privy Seal
- Sir Stafford Cripps:Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Ernest Bevin:Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
- James Chuter Ede:Secretary of State for the Home Department
- Jim Griffiths:Secretary of State for the Colonies
- Patrick Gordon Walker:Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
- Harold Wilson:President of the Board of Trade
- The Viscount Alexander of Hillsborough:Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- George Tomlinson:Minister of Education
- Hector McNeil:Secretary of State for Scotland
- Tom Williams:Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
- George Isaacs:Minister of Labourand National Service
- Aneurin Bevan:Minister of Health
- Emanuel Shinwell:Minister of Defence
- Hugh Dalton:Minister of Town and Country Planning
Changes
[edit]- October 1950:Hugh Gaitskellsucceeds Sir Stafford Cripps as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- January 1951: Aneurin Bevan succeeds George Isaacs as Minister of Labour andNational service.Bevan's successor as Minister of Health is not in the cabinet. Hugh Dalton's post is renamed Minister of Local Government and Planning.
- March 1951: Herbert Morrison succeeds Ernest Bevin as Foreign Secretary. Lord Addison succeeds Morrison asLord President.Bevin succeeds Addison as Lord Privy Seal. James Chuter Ede succeeds Morrison as Leader of the House of Commons whilst remaining Home Secretary.
- April 1951:Richard Stokessucceeds Ernest Bevin (deceased) as Lord Privy Seal.Alf Robenssucceeds Aneurin Bevan (resigned) as Minister of Labour and National Service. SirHartley Shawcrosssucceeds Harold Wilson (resigned) as President of the Board of Trade.
List of ministers
[edit]Members of the Cabinet are inboldface.
Major legislation enacted
[edit]- Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945
- Housing (Financial and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1946
- Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946
- Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act 1946
- National Health Service Act 1946
- National Insurance Act 1946
- National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946
- New Towns Act 1946
- Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act 1946
- Hill Farming Act 1946
- Agriculture Act 1947
- Pensions (Increase) Act 1947
- Electricity Act 1947
- Town and Country Planning Act 1947
- Transport Act 1947
- National Assistance Act 1948
- Children Act 1948
- Factories Act 1948
- Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1948
- Agricultural Holdings Act 1948
- Employment and Training Act 1948
- Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act 1948
- Law Reform (Personal Injuries) Act 1948
- Local Government Act 1948
- Representation of the People Act 1948
- Housing Act 1949
- Superannuation Act 1949
- House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949
- Landlord and Tenant (Rent Control) Act 1949
- Lands Tribunal Act 1949
- Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949
- Adoption of Children Act 1949
- Marriage Act 1949
- National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
- Parliament Act 1949
- Representation of the People Act 1949
- Distribution of Industry Act 1950
- Coal-Mining (Subsidence) Act 1950
- Allotments Act 1950
- Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) Act 1951
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^Jefferys 2014,p. 7.
- ^Reeves, Rachel,and Martin McIvor. "Clement Attlee and the foundations of the British welfare state".Renewal: a Journal of Labour Politics22#3⁄4(2014): 42+.onlineArchived15 December 2018 at theWayback Machine
- ^Jefferys 2014,p. 51.
- ^John Bew,Clement Attlee: The Man Who Made Modern Britain(2017).
- ^Andrew Marr,A History of Modern Britain(2007) pp 1–111
- ^Social Security Law in Context By Neville S. Harris, 2000, P.107
- ^Statutory Rules and Orders Other Than Those of a Local, Personal Or Temporary Character (varies Slightly). Volume 1, Part 2 By Great Britain. Laws, statutes, etc · 1949, P.2023-2028
- ^National Assistance Act 1948
Text was copied from this source, which is available under anOpen Government Licence v3.0.© Crown copyright.
- ^Stephen J. Lee,Aspects of British Political History 1914–1995(1996) pp 185–189
- ^Alan Sked and Chris Cook,Post-War Britain: A Political History(4th ed. 1993) pp 24–49
- ^William A. Robson, "Nationalised industries in Britain and France".American Political Science Review44#2 (1950): 299–322.
- ^Gilbert Walker, "The Transport Act 1947".Economic Journal58.229 (1948): 11–30.online
- ^Stephen J. Lee,Aspects of British Political History 1914–1995(1996) pp 261–266, 310–312
- ^William Ashworth,The state in business: 1945 to the mid 1980s(1991).
- ^Martin Chick,Industrial policy in Britain 1945–1951: economic planning, nationalisation and the Labour governments(2002).
- ^Robert A. Brady,Crisis in Britain. Plans and Achievements of the Labour Government(1950)excerpt
- ^Brady,Crisis in Britainpp 77–132
- ^Brady,Crisis in Britainpp 43–77.
- ^Brady,Crisis in Britainpp 352–401
- ^Michael Foot,Aneurin Bevan: v. 2. 1945–1960(1973) pp 100–215
- ^abBrady,Crisis in Britainpp 132–138
- ^Brady,Crisis in Britainpp 284–306
- ^Brady,Crisis in Britainpp 236–283
- ^George W. Ross,The Nationalisation of Steel: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?(1965).
- ^Alasdair M. Blair, "The British iron and steel industry since 1945".Journal of European Economic History26.3 (1997): 571.
- ^Brady,Crisis in Britainpp 183–235
- ^abcdJefferys 2014.
- ^Timmins, Nicholas.The Five Giants: A Biography of the Welfare State.
- ^Lowe, Norman.Mastering Modern World History(second edition)
- ^Blendon, R.J. & K. Donelan (1989)."British public opinion on National Health Service reform"(PDF).Health Affairs.8(4): 52–62.doi:10.1377/hlthaff.8.4.52.PMID2606439.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^Chick, Martin.Industrial Policy in Britain 1945–1951: Economic Planning, Nationalisation and the Labour Governments
- ^Poverty, inequality and health in Britain, 1800–2000: a reader edited by George Davey Smith, Daniel Dorling, and Mary Shaw
- ^Emslie, Stuart; Hancock, Charles, eds. (30 July 2008).Issues in Healthcare Risk Management.Oxford: Healthcare Governance Limited. p. 179.ISBN9780955852602.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^Statutory Rules and Orders Other Than Those of a Local, Personal Or Temporary Character (varies Slightly).Volume 1, Part, By Great Britain. Laws, statutes, etc · 1948, P.1373
- ^Rees, Naomi; Watson, David (30 April 2000).International Standards for Food Safety.Springer.ISBN9780834217683.Retrieved9 January2016.
- ^Hill, C.P.British Economic and Social History, 1700–1964.
- ^Ten Years of New Labour(edited by Matt Beech and Simon Lee)
- ^abThorpe, Andrew. (2001)A History of the British Labour Party,Palgrave;ISBN0-333-92908-X
- ^National Insurance Act, 1946, P.710
- ^"HC S Budget Resolution and Economic Situation".Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 5 May 1966.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^abcMorgan, Kenneth O.Labour in Power, 1945–1951.
- ^Byrne, Tony & Colin F. Padfield.Social Services: Made Simple.
- ^Socialism: The British Way(edited by Donald Munro).
- ^abFifty Facts for Labour,published by the Labour Party, Transport House, Smith Square, London, SW1, October 1951.
- ^Crabbe, R. J. W.; Poyser, C. A. (22 August 2013).Pension and Widows' and Orphans' Funds.Cambridge University Press.ISBN9781107621749.Retrieved9 January2016.
- ^Welfare Policy Under the Conservatives, 1951–1964: A Guide to Documents in the Public Record Office by Paul Bridgen and Rodney Lowe
- ^Statutory Rules and Orders Other Than Those of a Local, Personal, Or Temporary Character 1947, P.1589-1638
- ^abHarmer, Harry.The Longman Companion to The Labour Party 1900–1998.
- ^abPritt, Denis Nowell.The Labour Government 1945–1951.
- ^Scottish Housing in the Twentieth Century(edited by Richard Rodger)
- ^Miller, George (1 January 2000).On Fairness and Efficiency: The Privatisation of the Public Income Over the Past Millennium.Bristol, UK: The Policy Press. p.172.ISBN9781861342218.Retrieved21 July2012.
local authorities granted powers provide those in poor health subsidised Rent 1949.
- ^"Fifty Facts on Housing", published by the Labour Party, Transport House, Smith Square, London SW1, February 1951
- ^Socially Deprived Families in Britain(edited by Robert Holman), first published in 1970 (reprinted edition 1971).
- ^Labour and Inequality: Sixteen Fabian Essays(edited by Peter Townsend and Nicholas Bosanquet).
- ^Squires, Graham (21 August 2012).Urban and Environmental Economics: An Introduction.Routledge.ISBN9781136791000.
- ^"Who, What, Why: Why do the rich get child benefit?".BBC News.4 October 2010.
- ^"An Assessment of the Attlee Government".Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^Waltman, Jerold L. (2004).The Case for the Living Wage.Algore Publishing. p.199.ISBN9780875863023.Retrieved21 July2012.
The case for the living wage by Jerold L. Waltman 1945 Labour government family allowances.
- ^J.P. Lawton (April 1950). "Married Women (Maintenance) Act, 1949".The Modern Law Review.13(2). Wiley: 220–222.doi:10.1111/j.1468-2230.1950.tb00164.x.JSTOR1089590.
- ^"Mulberry".Learningeye.net. 9 October 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2012.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^The Longman Companion to the Labour Party, 1900–1998by H.J.P. Harmer
- ^Hollowell, J. (2008).Britain Since 1945.Wiley. p. 180.ISBN9780470758175.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^abFrancis, Martin.Ideas and Policies Under Labour, 1945–1951.
- ^"The Women's Library Special Collections Catalogue".Calmarchive.londonmet.ac.uk. 9 July 1952. Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2013.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^Townsend, Peter.Poverty in the United Kingdom: A Survey of Household Resources and Standards of Living.
- ^Hicks, Alexander M.Social Democracy & Welfare Capitalism: A Century of Income Security Politics.
- ^National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act, 1946, P.485
- ^Beaumont, Phil B. (1987).The Decline of Trade Union Organisation.Croom Helm.ISBN9780709939580.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^Card, David; Blundell, Richard; Freeman, Richard B. (1 December 2007).Seeking a Premier Economy: The Economic Effects of British Economic Reforms.University of Chicago Press. p. 192.ISBN9780226092904.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^Asplund, Rita, ed. (1998).Flexibility in the Nordic Labour Market.Nordic Council of Ministers. p. 119.ISBN9789289302579.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^The Public General Acts... and the Church Assembly Measures Volume 1,1948, P.1006
- ^"Google Drive Viewer".5 December 2008.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^"Midlands Electricity Board Workers (1957)".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons. 21 November 1957.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^"DWP IIAC Cm 6553 1805"(PDF).July 2005.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^"Working Time Directive"(PDF).19 November 1996.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^Fraser, W. Hamish.A History of British Trade Unionism, 1700–1998.
- ^"Dock Workers Pensions Bill (1960)".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons. 11 May 1960.Retrieved2 October2011.
- ^Harrison, Brian (26 March 2009).Seeking a Role: The United Kingdom 1951–1970.Oxford:Oxford University Press.ISBN9780191606786.Retrieved20 March2013.
- ^"Ken Loach's film - The Spirit Of '45 – How We Did it".thespiritof45. Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2013.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^"Police Pensions Regulations (1949)".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons. 29 June 1949.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^"HC S National Insurance (Colliery Workers)".Margaret Thatcher Foundation. 15 March 1965.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^Social security in Britain,Great Britain, Central Office of Information, Reference Division, H.M. Stationery Office (1977)
- ^Statutory Rules and Orders Other Than Those of a Local, Personal Or Temporary Character (varies Slightly). Volume 1, Part 2 By Great Britain. Laws, statutes, etc, 1949 P.2958-2959
- ^"The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff"(PDF).NHS Employers.2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 5 July 2009.Retrieved17 May2019.
- ^Eggar, Tim (22 November 1994)."The Industry-Wide Mineworkers' Pension Scheme Regulations 1994".Legislation.gov.uk.Retrieved21 July2012.
- ^"Labour's rural legacy under threat".29 April 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved9 January2016.
- ^Kingsley Kay (January 1946)."Development of Industrial Hygiene in Canada"(PDF).Industrial Safety Survey.XXII(1). Montreal. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 October 2016.Retrieved1 October2016– viaILO.org.
- ^SAFETY SURVEY, VOLUME XXIII, 1947
- ^abSAFETY SURVEY, VOLUME XXV, 1949
- ^abINDUSTRIAL SAFETY SURVEY, VOLUME XXVI, 1950
- ^"Metal Trades Committee, Second Session, Stockholm 1947: General Report"(PDF).staging.ilo.org.Geneva: International Labour Office. 1947. p. 29. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 7 June 2016.Retrieved25 March2016.
- ^ab"International Labour Conference, Thirty-Fifth Session, 1952: Protection of the Health of Workers in Places of Employment"(PDF).staging.ilo.org.Geneva: International Labour Office. 1951. p. 97. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 9 November 2015.Retrieved25 March2016.
- ^Hodge, Graeme A.; Bowman, Diana M.; Maynard, Andrew D. (January 2010).International Handbook on Regulating Nanotechnologies.Edward Elgar.ISBN9781849808125.Retrieved9 January2016.
- ^"The Pottery (Health and Welfare) Special Regulations 1950".legislation.gov.uk.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^Examination note-book of the English legal system: including a history of judicial institutions by Ronald Harry Graveson
- ^Steele, J. (2010).Tort Law: Text, Cases, and Materials.OUP Oxford. p. 15.ISBN9780199550753.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^Collins, M. (2000).AS Level Law.Taylor & Francis. p. 164.ISBN9781135340858.Retrieved5 October2014.
- ^The Statutory Rules and Orders Revised Being the Statutory Rules and Orders (other Than Those of a Local, Personal, Or Temporary Character) in Force on December 31, 1903, Volume 5, 1950, P.414-415
- ^Richard Toye,"From 'Consensus' to 'Common Ground': The Rhetoric of the Postwar Settlement and its Collapse,"Journal of Contemporary History(2013) 48#1 pp 3–23.
- ^Dennis Kavanagh, "The Postwar Consensus,"Twentieth Century British History(1992) 3#2 pp 175–190.
- ^Paul Addison,The road to 1945: British politics and the Second World War(1975).
- ^Ralph Miliband, Parliamentary socialism: A study in the politics of labour. (1972).
- ^Angus Calder,The Peoples War: Britain, 1939–1945(1969).
- ^Daniel Ritschel, Daniel. "Consensus in the Postwar Period After 1945," in David Loades, ed.,Reader's Guide to British History(2003) 1:296–297.
Sources
[edit]- Jefferys, Kevin (14 January 2014).The Attlee Governments 1945–1951.Routledge.ISBN978-1-317-89894-8.
Further reading
[edit]- Bew, John.Clement Attlee: The Man Who Made Modern Britain(2017), comprehensive scholarly biography.
- Brady, Robert A.Crisis in Britain: Plans and Achievements of the Labour Government.(1950), 730pp, highly detailed coverage of each nationalization project Social Security, health programmes, and other domestic policies.excerpt
- Butler, David and G. Butler,Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000.
- Childs, David.Britain since 1945: A Political History(2012)
- French, David.Army, Empire, and Cold War: The British Army and Military Policy, 1945–1971(Oxford University Press,2012).
- Hennessy, Peter.Never Again: Britain, 1945–1951(2nd ed. 2006), scholarly historyonline
- Hennessey, Thomas.Britain's Korean War: Cold War diplomacy, strategy and security 1950–1953(Oxford University Press, 2015).
- Kynaston, David.Austerity Britain, 1945–1951(2008), social history
- Morgan, Kenneth O.Labour in Power 1945–1951(Oxford University Press, 1984)online
- Ovendale, R. ed.The foreign policy of the British Labour governments, 1945–1951(1984).
- Pelling, Henry. "The 1945 general election reconsidered".Historical Journal23#2 (1980): 399–414.in JSTOR
- Pelling, Henry.Labour Governments, 1945–1951(1984) 313pp.
- Pritt, Denis Nowell.The Labour Government 1945–1951(1963) detailed coverage, with a far-left perspectiveonline
- Reeves, Rachel,and Martin McIvor. "Clement Attlee and the foundations of the British welfare state".Renewal: a Journal of Labour Politics22#3/4 (2014): 42+.Archived15 December 2018 at theWayback Machine
- Sissons, Michael, and Philip French, eds.Age of Austerity(1963) 15 essays on society and politicsonline
- Sked, Alan, and Chris Cook.Post-War Britain: A Political History(1979)
- Tomlinson, Jim.Democratic Socialism and Economic Policy: The Attlee Years, 1945–1951(2002)online
- Williamson, Adrian. "The Bullock Report on Industrial Democracy and the Post-War Consensus."Contemporary British History30#1 (2016): 119–149.
- Worswick, G. D. N. and P. H. Ady, eds.The British economy, 1945-1950(1952)online
- Zweiniger-Bargielowska, Ina.Austerity in Britain: rationing, controls, and consumption, 1939-1955(2002) major scholarly history;online
- Clement Attlee
- 1940s in the United Kingdom
- 1945 establishments in the United Kingdom
- 1950s in the United Kingdom
- 1951 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
- British ministries
- Cabinets disestablished in 1951
- Cabinets established in 1945
- History of the Labour Party (UK)
- Ministers in the Attlee governments, 1945–1951
- Ministries of George VI
- Welfare in the United Kingdom
- Labour Party (UK) cabinets