Labour Wins!

24 March 1944 - Clement Atlee's Labour Party has won the general election with a landslide victory and a controlling 145 seats. This was not an unexpected defeat for the Conservatives. With the economic downturn, the loss of India, and two military defeats, their time in office was numbered.

Lord Halifax knew as much, facing a vote of no confidence following the armistice signed with Japan. Rather than endure the humiliation, Halifax set elections and then declared his retirement from politics. Reviled by some, pitied by others, Lord Halifax knew he was hampering his party and bowed out as gracefully as he could.

The Labour Party ran on promises to create full employment, a tax funded universal National Health Service, and a cradle-to-grave welfare state, with the sensational campaign message of 'let us face the future.'

This was the first election in which Labour gained a majority of seats, and also the first time it won a plurality of votes. If it had won another 68,767 or 0.3% of votes it would have had over 50% of all those cast: the closest any party has come a majority of all votes since 1931.

SOURCE: The Herald