In March 1962 the Liberals won a by-election in Orpington in Kent, which should have been safe Tory territory. They had also narrowed

their majority in Blackpool North the previous day, also a former safe-seat. With the general

election coming up in 1964, what might Macmillan do?

•If you don’t know, find out from someone else what a by-election and safe seat is.

•Selwyn Lloyd was the current chancellor. He had introduced increased taxes on sweets, soft drinks and ice cream, it seemed like he was taxing children’s pocket money. What might Macmillan do

with him?

What was the ‘Night of the Long Knives’?LO. To learn and assess the causes and consequences of the Night of the Long Knives

Think Pair ShareWhat other events may have caused the ‘Night of the Long Knives’? – you can use pp. 83 to help

•A reshuffle had already been planned for the Autumn, however….•SPARK – BUTLER ‘SLIPPING’ TO PRESS BARON LORD ROTHERMERE WHO OWNED CONSERVATIVE

NEWSPAPERS. MACMILLAN WAS CONVINCED SELWYN LLOYD WAS TRYING TO ORGANISE A REBELLION TO GET RID OF HIM – ALTHOUGH SOME THINK THIS IS AN EXCUSE HE CAME UP WITH LATER

•1959 conservatives increased their majority (Conservatives 365, Labour 258, Liberal 6, other 1) •Heathcoat-Amory (Chancellor of the exchequer 1958-1960) wanted to deflate and have a tough budget, Macmillan didn’t, he resigned after run-ins with Macmillan, Macmillan appointed Selwyn Lloyd who was

weak and would do what he said, Selwyn Lloyd then wanted austerity measures too)•Wages rose faster than productivity 1960-1962

•Summer 1961 emergency package, purchase tax up, bank rate up, pay freeze in public sector•NEDDY – National Economic Development Council NEDC, set up of 6 trade unionists, 6 industrialists, 2 independents, 6 cabinet ministers. Meetings held about how to sort out the economy by implementing

various plans. It failed.

Why did Butler let it slip?

What was the ‘Night of the Long Knives’?LO. To consider the causes and consequences of

the Night of the Long KnivesPosition Outgoing minister Party Incoming minister Party

Lord Chancellor Lord Kilmuir Conservatives Lord Dilhorne Conservatives

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Selwyn Lloyd Conservatives Reginald Maudling Conservatives

Minister of Education David Eccles Conservatives Sir Edward Boyle, Bt Conservatives

Minister of Defence Harold Watkinson Conservatives Peter Thorneycroft Conservatives

Secretary of State for Scotland

John Maclay National Liberals Michael Noble Conservatives

Minister of Housing and Local Government

Charles Hill National Liberals Sir Keith Joseph, Bt Conservatives

Minister without portfolio Lord Mills Conservatives Bill Deedes Conservatives

1/3 of the cabinet were sacked!

Average age went from 59 to 50 – why was this? Think of what else is going on in the

early 1960s.

What was the ‘Night of the Long Knives’?LO. To learn and assess the causes and consequences of

the Night of the Long Knives

What was the ‘Night of the Long Knives’?

LO. To learn and assess the causes and

consequences of the Night of the Long Knives

Standard - What were the three main causes of the ‘Night of the

Long Knives’?Super – What caused the ‘Night of Standard – What short-term and

long-term consequences were there for the Conservatives?

Super – What consequences came from the Night of the Long Knives?

Hints:When Macmillan appeared next in the house, Selwyn Lloyd was cheered and Macmillan faced silence from his benches and cheers from the opposition. Butler was moved from

Home Secretary afterwards to the First Secretary of State and told to oversee the Central African Office (what impact would this have on Macmillan). Now that Macmillan had

replaced Lloyd with Maudling, who would do what he wanted, he could push ahead with reflation and move away from austerity – he cut taxes and reduced the bank rate. The

support for the Liberals declined and Macmillan regained support as a leader.