Revolution Without Tears

Term coined by Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee referring to the changes after the Second World War usually known as Welfare State.

Post-War Situation

After the end of the Second World War in 1945, Britain’s situation was severe. The country had to deal with a shortage of men and their skills due to heavy losses in WW2. By the end of the war, Britain was also the largest debtor nation in the world with a loss of 28 per cent of the nation’s wealth (Arnold 17). Further, Britain was confronted with national and international commitments and faced austerity (Pelling 67). Thus, Britain’s situation called for a profound change, a reform in the social and economic system.

Aims & Measures

In 1945, the Labour party had many advantages. The most important one was its election manifesto Let Us Face the Future – “breathtaking in its scope and revolutionary in its aims” as described by Arnold (15 f.), which led to Labour’s spectacular victory of the general election in 1945. Clement Attlee, the new Labour PM, promised a revolution without tears, revolutionary changes without any negative consequences. The basis was the concept of a mixed economy by John Maynard Keynes with a more active role for the state in order to boost the economy. The planks involved full employment, nationalisation, welfare, education, the retreat from the empire, and the conciliation of the trade unions (Kavanagh & Morris 4 f.)

Achievements & Evaluation

Since the successful implementation of the planks ended mass poverty, existential problems and led to a remarkable recovery of the economy, the changes the Labour government under Attlee brought about are indeed considered universally ground-breaking (Pelling 267).

“The Attlee government went ahead on all fronts including massive and successful social reforms.” (Arnold 21).

Despite facing numerous existing and emerging problems, the following social measures were enacted during the first three years from 1945 until 1948: family allowances, social security, real insurance against work-related injuries, universal medical attention, and changes involving children and national assistance (ibid.). Labour politician James Griffiths described these measures as providing “a shield for every man, woman and child in the country against the ravages of poverty and adversity.” (qtd. in Arnold 21).

But this ground-breaking effect is not only connected to the successful implementation of social measures, it can be also linked to the fact that the nature of the programme, as outlined in the Labour manifesto Let Us Face the Future, was considered revolutionary. It did not only account for “the enormous task of peacetime reconstruction” (ibid. 17), it rather “embarked upon a comprehensive revolution of change” (ibid.) which addressed the current needs of the people:

“Historians are convinced that in 1945 people knew what they wanted – and what they wanted was contained between the covers of Let Us Face the Future.” (Tiratsoo 55).

Further, the Labour government under Clement Attlee and its successful implementation of a mixed economy and the welfare state are considered the hallmarks of post-war consensus (Arnold 22).

References

[1] Arnold, Guy. Britain since 1945. Choice, Conflict and Change. London: Blandford, 1989.

[2] Kavanagh, Dennis and Peter Morris. Consensus Politics from Attlee to Thatcher. Oxford: Blackwell, 1989.

[3] Pelling, Henry. The Labour Government, 1945-51. London: MacMillan Press, 1984.

[4] Tiratsoo, Nick. The Attlee Years. London: Pinter, 1991.