Current Affairs The worst post-war Prime Minister

[Walken]

Atlee's a bit over-rated isn't he? The welfare state was devised by Beveridge (a Liberal), and was supported by the Tories (who had the creation of the NHS in their manifesto as well). Labour won that election and implemented it, but it was very much in keeping with cross party opinion back then.

the tories voted against the NHS 21 times

 

[Bruce Wayne]

the tories voted against the NHS 21 times

They may have done in their time, but not in their 1945 manifesto - http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/con45.htm

 

[Walken]

They may have done in their time, but not in their 1945 manifesto - http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/man/con45.htm

are we viewing manifesto's as clad iron contracts with the public now?

 

[Methuselah]

St Matthew's Mate?

Yes, 1947 to 1951. Paddy Hart was Headmaster.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

are we viewing manifesto's as clad iron contracts with the public now?

No, of course not, but the post-war welfare state was the work of William Beveridge, and had cross party approval from Labour, Liberals and Tories. The winds had changed and it was likely that the NHS would have emerged regardless of the party in office. After all, I think I'm right in saying that Churchill significantly increased investment in it when he regained power after Atlee.

 

[Methuselah]

Atlee's a bit over-rated isn't he? The welfare state was devised by Beveridge (a Liberal), and was supported by the Tories (who had the creation of the NHS in their manifesto as well). Labour won that election and implemented it, but it was very much in keeping with cross party opinion back then.

No, he wasn't over-rated. He was a miserable sod, never saw him smile but given the situation immediately following the war, he did a fantastic job. I think that it was only the return of rationing in the late 1940's, early 1950's that did for him. People were fed up with rationing. It didn't take much longer for Macmillan to be able to boast that 'you've never had it so good'. People could relate to that because rationing was, by then, a distant memory.

 

[Methuselah]

Just an anecdote on rationing. Can't remember the date, late 1940's from memory. It was announced with a great fanfare that sweets were coming off ration. On the very first day of 'off ration' my brother and I raced up to the sweet shop at the 'Crown' on Walton Hall Avenuue to experience buying sweets without a ration book. When we got there, there was a queue about 20 yards long outside the shop. When we got in, the shopkeeper had run out of almost everything. He had a couple of jars of loose sweets and was 'rationing' them to 2 ounces each person. This was less than you got previously with ration books!

 

[Walken]

No, of course not, but the post-war welfare state was the work of William Beveridge, and had cross party approval from Labour, Liberals and Tories. The winds had changed and it was likely that the NHS would have emerged regardless of the party in office. After all, I think I'm right in saying that Churchill significantly increased investment in it when he regained power after Atlee.

Churchill opposed much of the beveridge report, I'm not sure beveridge was for nationalisation of the health service in the form it was eventually created, but regardless, it's possible to credit the man who is a bit unfairly forgotten, without discrediting Attlee and Bevin

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Churchill opposed much of the beveridge report, I'm not sure beveridge was for nationalisation of the health service in the form it was eventually created, but regardless, it's possible to credit the man who is a bit unfairly forgotten, without discrediting Attlee and Bevin

Wouldn't wish to discredit them, and didn't intend to, merely saying that it wasn't a purely Labour invention. Politicians often ride the tide rather than change it.

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

Bit of a side note on Churchill an uncle who lived with us till his death hated Churchill called him everything under the sun, considering the adulation around him I found this odd, anyone shed any light on why this would be.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

I honestly can't see why not everyone has voted for Blair. Everything he did was based on how he could gain something. He is a proven liar, he used the Labour party to achieve his ambitions. He's a multi-millionaire with a large property portfolio which includes a large estate. You don't achieve that on a PM's salary.
On a more general point, the worst Conservative PM was John Major, closely followed by Cameron, who should have been in the Liberal party.

Blair will be remembered fondly in Ireland by many for his work in securing the GFA. Major had left him a hell of a mess.

 

[roydo]

Bit of a side note on Churchill an uncle who lived with us till his death hated Churchill called him everything under the sun, considering the adulation around him I found this odd, anyone shed any light on why this would be.

Just from an anecdote, but apparently he was a piece of work.

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

Blair will be remembered fondly in Ireland by many for his work in securing the GFA. Major had left him a hell of a mess.

For that alone he deserves great credit.

 

[tsubaki]

Blair will be remembered fondly in Ireland by many for his work in securing the GFA. Major had left him a hell of a mess.

Not really; Major did most of the legwork over Ireland and certainly took far more of a risk.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

For that alone he deserves great credit.

Mo Mowlem equally.