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The Attlee years

A snowbound bus near Oldham in February 1947 - the extreme weather conditions reflect post-war austerity.

A snowbound bus near Oldham in February 1947 - the extreme weather conditions reflect post-war austerity.
©TopFoto

Following the Labour election victory in 1945, the trade unions collaborated with the Government in economic and social policy until 1951. This moved Britain in the direction of corporatism.

Related documents

Labour and reform

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Parliament. 7 August 1945 (PDF, 2.328MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act Repeal Bill: Memorandum by the Lord Chancellor. 10 September 1945 (PDF, 0.262MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 6. Wages Policy. 14 March 1946 (PDF, 1.372MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 5. Wages Policy. 11 April 1946 (PDF, 1.741MB)

American Aid

Cabinet Conclusion 2. Washington Discussions on Financial Questions and Commercial Policy. 5 December 1945 (PDF, 2.718MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 9. Financial Agreement with the US. 13 May 1946 (PDF, 1.718MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Washington Financial Talks: Memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 28 November 1945 (PDF, 0.930MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Commercial Policy: Memorandum by the President of the Board of Trade. 24 November 1945 (PDF, 4.194MB)

Balance of payments and wages

Cabinet Conclusions. Balance of Payments. 1 August 1947 (PDF, 1.121MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Balance of Payments and Convertibility: Memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 5 August 1947 (PDF, 1.342MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 2. Balance of Payments Situation. 5 August 1947 (PDF, 2.094MB)

Cabinet Conclusions. Balance of Payments. 20 August 1947 (PDF, 0.644MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Balance of Payments: Memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 16 August 1947 (PDF, 1.230MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Balance of Payments. Memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 30 July 1947 (PDF, 1.598MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Dollar Programme in 1948. Note by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Minister for Economic Affairs. 16 October 1947 (PDF, 2.760MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Interim Report of the Working Policy on Stabilisation of Wages. Memorandum by the Minister of Labour and National Service. 23 September 1947 (PDF, 2.046MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Balance of Payments: Non-Dollar Plan for 1948. Memorandum by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 22 November 1947 (PDF, 2.211MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 7. Wages Policy. 29 January 1948 (PDF, 1.725MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Wages Policy. 2 February 1948 (PDF, 1.412MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Statement on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices: Note by the Lord President of the Council. 30 January 1948 (PDF, 1.017MB)

The right to strike and industrial dispute

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Road Haulage Strike. 13 January 1947 (PDF, 1.651MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The London Dock Strike. Memorandum by the Home Secretary. 12 April 1949 (PDF, 0.679MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The London Dock Strike. Memorandum by the Minister of Labour and National Service. 12 April 1949 (PDF, 1.160MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Legal Action in Connection with Unofficial Strikes. Memorandum by the Attorney General. 11 October 1950 (PDF, 0.575MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Industrial Disputes. 26 July 1951 (PDF, 2.429MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The Future of the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order. Memorandum by the Minister of Labour and National Service: 20 July 1951 (PDF, 0.536MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The Future of the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order. Memorandum by the Attorney-General. 24 July 1951 (PDF, 0.661MB)

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Further reading

Tomlinson, J.R., Democratic Socialism and Economic Policy: the Attlee Years, 1945-1951 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997)
O'Morgan, K., Labour in Power, 1945-51 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1984)

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