A Case Study: The General Election of 1951

A CASE STUDY
THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1951
THE SUTTON CONSTITUENCY OF PLYMOUTH
'Victory but not triumph for the Conservatives, defeat but no rout for the Socialists'
THE NATIONAL PICTURE
By 1951, Clement Attlee's Labour Government was on its knees. Most of the promises set out by the Labour party in its 1945 manifesto had been put into practice, leaving the party directionless. The general election of 1950 had slashed Attlee's majority to just six seats. Attlee's cabinet was straining after long years in office with many key ministers ill, dying or resigning. The Governments foreign…