The Impact of Clement Attlee

The economic policies of Clement Attlee have had such a profound impact on the nation that he remains one of the most influential Prime Ministers the UK has ever had.

Attlee won the 1945 General Election with a landslide victory. He took over a nation in wartime, but by then it was clear who the victors would be. The priorities of the British government could therefore shift away from war strategies and more towards building an ideal post-war society; Attlee’s manifesto set out to fight against the five ‘Giant Evils’ widespread in society prior to his election: Squalor, Ignorance, Want, Idleness and Disease. With his reforms, the Prime Minister took the UK as far as politically-left it had ever been, and set the foundations of British society for at least the next thirty years, with some of his core policies still prevalent today.

Possibly the most profound reform Attlee introduced was the establishment of the NHS. Not only did this help combat the ‘evil’ of disease, through the creation of a health service accessible to all, Attlee drastically transformed the relationship between the individual and state — for the better. For the first time in British history, everyone was entitled to treatment, and it would be provided free at the point of delivery. British people emerged from the war with a new sense of social security and comfort, and through increased government intervention in the economy they were enabled a life of greater freedoms.

The NHS remains a quintessential staple of British culture and politics, is proudly boasted by the nation to the international community, and is one of the reasons why the UK is such a popular attraction for many migrants. The impacts of its creation cannot be undermined. An efficient and accessible health care system reduces unemployment as people are able to receive quick treatment indiscriminate of their income, meaning they won’t be forced out of their job due to illness. After they have been helped by the state, they can return to earning wages and contributing to consumer spending in the economy. In the long term, the NHS has increased the size of the UK labour force as a result of offering immigrants the assurance of good health.

This links to Attlee’s firm principles of Keynesian economics. He believed that, through increased government intervention, he could reach levels of full employment and the creation of a prosperous post-war society. Attlee was close to complete success in this sense, as unemployment dropped to around 2.5%.

To fight the pressing issue of poverty and squalor, Attlee increased government spending and increased intervention in the economy. Over 1 million new houses were built, which ensured that decent, affordable housing was available to many low-income families for the first time ever. To overcome ignorance, he reformed the education system, creating grammar schools and secondary moderns, offering free education to all, including at universities.

Attlee also, in effect, created the welfare state. Although elements of a welfare system had been functioning since 1910, it was dramatically expanded by Attlee. He offered greater pensions and benefits for the poorest families, on top of the access to free welfare.

Even Margaret Thatcher, who sought to reverse Attlee’s state control of 20% of all industry, didn’t dare touch the welfare state he created. Attlee’s reforms have allowed modern day UK to run a mixed economy, providing society assurances and safety nets whilst still also allowing the economy to expand through relatively unregulated markets.

Attlee’s achievements as prime minister had lasting effects. His policies laid the foundation for the post-war consensus in the United Kingdom that remained unchallenged for the next thirty years.

His cradle-to-grave welfare policies and Keynesian economics were laid the foundations that were used to rebuild the country after WWII, and those foundations lasted until the 1980s.

Clement Attlee’s impact on the UK economy, society and political landscape has therefore been large and long lasting, to the extent where it can be confidently said that his legacy will be everlasting.