1964 UK General Election

Dr. Cynic
Atlas Icon

Posts: 12,424

Political Matrix
E: -4.11, S: -6.09

Show only this user's posts in this thread

1964 UK General Election

« on: September 01, 2013, 03:26:09 PM »

The 1959 Election ended with a massive landslide for Labour. Hugh Gaitskell's party won 386 seats and had a massive majority with which to institute their new program. Jo Grimond's Liberals also had a surprisingly happy election night, doubling their seat total to 12. Harold Macmillan's Tories however had no such happiness. The Conservatives were all but annihilated on election night, prompting Macmillan to resign after his party won only 232 seats.

Following Labour's victory, Gaitskell set about to implement his policy of pension increases which passed easily in the House. Gaitskell also took a moderate course on nationalization of industry, which left wingers bitterly criticized. Gaitskell and those who agreed with him felt that further nationalization was anachronistic. Gaitskell also was firmly anti-EEC. In 1961, Gaitskell received pressure from his own followers in the party to apply for membership to the European Economic Community, but he refused. Again in 1962, Gaitskell refused another call to apply for membership. In the interim, the Conservatives had selected Rab Butler as their new leader. Butler was an experienced politician who, oddly enough, had adopted many of the policies when he was Chancellor of the person who had preceded him in that office: Hugh Gaitskell.

Gaitskell got along well with President Kennedy to the point where Anglo-American relations remained high. Gaitskell and Kennedy both took tough stances towards the Soviets and Gaitskell's commitment to keep Britain a nuclear state also kept relations warm, but angered many in the Labour left.

However, in January 1963, Gaitskell died after a sudden flare of Lupus, leading the country without a talented and popular Prime Minister. George Brown, the Deputy PM took over as a caretaker until the Labour Party could hold a leadership election. Brown's propensity to get drunk, however hurt the party's standings and wrecked his own hope at leadership. A ballot between Foreign Secretary Harold Wilson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jim Callaghan took place with Callaghan barely edging Wilson in the vote. Callaghan was popular with the right of the party and performed well against Butler in the House of Commons.

With that, we start a new campaign for 1964!

Labour: Now led by James Callaghan, the Labour Party has had a good term in government thanks mostly to the late Hugh Gaitskell's leadership. Callaghan is campaigning on Labour's record of job creation and the pension increases. Another positive was that now more homes were being built with central heating than ever before. Labour are in general campaigning on a yes to application to enter the European Economic Community.

Conservative: Led by Rab Butler. Butler is popular with the electorate and his image is that of a modern conservative. Butler is campaigning against the rises in inflation and is warning that Labour will bankrupt the nation if they continue spending this way. The Tories are also campaigning for a no vote on entering the European Economic Community.

Liberal: Led still by Jo Grimond, the Liberals are defending 12 seats and are running now in 365 constituencies. The Liberals are campaigning on the creation of a Ministry of Expansion to implement a plan of long term economic growth and, like the Tories, they are looking to reduce the income tax and increase productivity. The Liberals, as always, are also pro-Europe and want to enter the community.

Poll runs for 48 hours. I'm not going to hide the votes this time.

Logged

Leftbehind
YaBB God

Posts: 3,639

	Welcome, Guest. Please login or register. Did you miss your activation email? April 16, 2024, 04:25:36 AM

News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more