Educated at Haileybury College and Oxford university he went on to become a lawyer. Between 1945 and 1951, the quality of rural life was improved by improvements in gas, electricity, and water services, as well as in leisure and public amenities. Many Labour activists were baffled by the top leadership role for a man they regarded as having little charisma; Beatrice Webb wrote in her diary in early 1940: Following the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the War in Europe in May 1945, Attlee and Churchill favoured the coalition government remaining in place until Japan had been defeated. When a general election was called at the peak of the war in Europe, Attlee led the Labour Party to a surprising landslide victory, winning 393 seats to the Conservative’s 213, and 48% of the public vote. [210], Thatcher herself wrote in her 1995 memoirs, which charted her beginnings in Grantham to her victory at the 1979 general election, that she admired Attlee, writing: "Of Clement Attlee, however, I was an admirer. [150] A Monopolies and Restrictive Practices (Inquiry and Control) Act was passed in 1948, which allowed for investigations of restrictive practices and monopolies. This reform was eventually carried out by Harold Wilson's government. After looking more closely at Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and even his former colleague Oswald Mosley, leader of the new blackshirt fascist movement in Britain, Attlee retreated from his radicalism, and distanced himself from the League, and argued instead that the Labour Party must adhere to constitutional methods and stand forthright for democracy and against totalitarianism of either the left or right. [123] As noted by Martin Francis: Union leaders saw nationalisation as a means to pursue a more advantageous position within a framework of continued conflict, rather than as an opportunity to replace the old adversarial form of industrial relations. [111] Attlee himself sought warm relations with Stalin. Although it was unsuccessful, Attlee believed that it was a bold strategy, which could have been a success if it had been better implemented on the ground. This was used to good effect against US-UK forces in the subsequent Korean War, as well as in several later MiG models. Clement Attlee became the first Labour Prime Minister after the Second World War. Clement Attlee Clement Attlee (1883-1967) was Prime Minister of the UK from 1945-51. [127] In addition, the Livestock Rearing Act of March 1951[128] extended the provisions of the 1946 Hill Farming Act to the upland store cattle and sheep sector. The book attacked the idea that looking after the poor could be left to voluntary action. [38], Attlee effectively served as acting leader for nine months from December 1933, after Lansbury fractured his thigh in an accident, which raised Attlee's public profile considerably. [98], 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. He became the Labour Party expert on India and by 1934 was committed to granting India the same independent dominion status that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa had recently been given. His leadership style was apparently collective, but once the Prime Minister had let his Cabinet voice their opinions, he would quickly make decisions with military precision. Later that year, Hugh Dalton resigned as Chancellor after inadvertently leaking details of the budget to a journalist. Congress, led by Nehru and Gandhi, demanded immediate independence and full control by Congress of all of India. He had a fine presence and great oratorical power. It is now held by Clement Attlee's grandson John Richard Attlee, 3rd Earl Attlee. Attlee, however, continued to lead the Labour party until 1955, and died in 1967, aged 84. He proved a loyal ally of the US at the onset of the Cold War. The government maintained most of the wartime controls over the economy, including control over the allocation of materials and manpower, and unemployment rarely rose above 500,000, or 3 per cent of the total workforce. Bold, enlightened and good-natured acts in the trade union movement was Attlee 's service on Suez! New homes were completed in England, Scotland, and opportunities for University were. There have been unable to continue leading the Party as Leader of the pound Gandhi is by. Attracted aspiring leaders from Africa and had developed elaborate plans before the.... 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