Government Aneurin Bevan

the 1945 general election resulted in landslide victory labour party, giving large enough majority allow implementation of party s manifesto commitments , introduce programme of far-reaching social reforms collectively dubbed welfare state (see 1945 labour election manifesto). these reforms achieved in face of great financial difficulty following war. new prime minister, clement attlee, appointed aneurin bevan minister of health, remit covered housing. thus, responsibility instituting new , comprehensive national health service, tackling country s severe post-war housing shortage, fell youngest member of attlee s cabinet in first ministerial position. free national health service paid directly through public money. government income increased welfare state expenditure severe increase in marginal tax rates wealthy business owners in particular, part of labour government largely saw redistribution of wealth created working-class owners of large-scale industry workers.

the collective principle asserts that... no society can legitimately call civilised if sick person denied medical aid because of lack of means.

on appointed day , 5 july 1948, having overcome political opposition both conservative party , within own party, , after dramatic showdown british medical association, had threatened derail national health service scheme before had begun, medical practitioners continued withhold support months before launch of service, bevan s national health service act 1946 came force. after eighteen months of ongoing dispute between ministry of health , bma, bevan managed win on support of vast majority of medical profession offering couple of minor concessions, without compromising on fundamental principles of national health service proposals. bevan later gave famous quote that, broker deal, had stuffed mouths gold . 2,688 voluntary , municipal hospitals in england , wales nationalised , came under bevan s supervisory control health minister.

bevan said:

the national health service , welfare state have come used interchangeable terms, , in mouths of people terms of reproach. why not difficult understand, if view angle of strictly individualistic competitive society. free health service pure socialism , such opposed hedonism of capitalist society.

statue of bevan in cardiff robert thomas

when bevan made minister in 1945, envisioned sector of public housing provide people choice live in owner occupation or private sector:

we should try introduce in our modern villages , towns lovely feature of english , welsh villages, doctor, grocer, butcher , farm labourer lived in same street. believe essential full life of citizen... see living tapestry of mixed community.

substantial bombing damage , continued existence of pre-war slums in many parts of country made task of housing reform particularly challenging bevan. indeed, these factors, exacerbated post-war restrictions on availability of building materials , skilled labour, collectively served limit bevan s achievements in area. 1946 saw completion of 55,600 new homes; rose 139,600 in 1947 , 227,600 in 1948. while not insignificant achievement, bevan s rate of house-building seen less of achievement of conservative (indirect) successor, harold macmillan, able complete 300,000 year minister housing in 1950s. macmillan able concentrate full-time on housing, instead of being obliged, bevan, combine housing portfolio health (which bevan took higher priority). critics said cheaper mass-production housing built macmillan poor standard of housing bevan aiming replace.

bevan contended welsh mining constituency did not send him parliament dress , declined wear formal attire @ buckingham palace functions.

bevan said @ party rally in 1948: no amount of cajolery can eradicate heart deep burning hatred tory party....they lower vermin. comment inspired creation of vermin club angry conservatives; attacked bevan years metaphor. labour party deputy leader herbert morrison complained bevan s attack had backfired, words did more make tories work , vote... conservative central office have done.

in 1951, retirement of ernest bevin, bevan leading candidate foreign secretary. prime minister attlee rejected bevan because distrusted personality. according john campbell, attlee thought that:

bevan s impetuous temperament, undiplomatic tone , reputation extreme left-winger combined make foreign office seem last place prudent prime minister think of putting him @ time. vermin speech still resonated; imagination shuddered @ repetition of on international stage.

bevan appointed minister of labour (during helped secure deal railwaymen provided them big pay increase)) in 1951 resigned in protest @ hugh gaitskell s introduction of prescription charges dental care , spectacles—created meet financial demands imposed korean war. 2 other ministers, john freeman , harold wilson resigned @ same time. see bevan’s resignation speech 23 april 1951. later same year, labour party defeated @ general election.