Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell Biography

First elected Member of Parliament for Leeds South

Britain suffers from an acute fuel shortage in the autumn

Appointed Minister of Fuel & Power

Introduces prescription charges

Appointed Minister of Economic Affairs

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer

Proposes charges for dentures and spectacles in the 1951 Budget.

Appointed Party Treasurer of the Labour Party

Wins the Labour leadership contest against Bevan and Morrison.

Elected Party Leader of the Labour Party

Appointed Party Leader of the Labour Party

At Conference the Party follows Gaitskell & rejects Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament

Accepts Wilson's comprimise for Clause IV of the Labour Party for "common ownership". Urges Labour to adopt a mixed economy at the Blackpool Conference

The Labour Party loses its 3rd general election in a row. Promises not to increase taxes, seen as an electoral bribe. Labour win 43.8% of votes cast, 258 seats, the Conservatives win 365 seats. Defeated after Gaitskell promises increased spending without increasing taxes

Accepts Wilson's comprimise for Clause IV of the Labour Party for "common ownership"

Accepts Wilson's comprimise for Clause IV of the Labour Party for "common ownership"

Calls for the reform of Clause IV of after the loss of 3 elections in a row

Calls for the reform of Clause IV of after the loss of 3 elections in a row

Calls for the reform of Clause IV of after the loss of 3 elections in a row

Forced to give up his proposed reforms for Clause IV of the Labour Party

Defeated at Conference & forced to accept Unilateral Nuclear Disarmament

Wins 166 votes to Harold Wilson's 81 to retain the leadership of the Labour Party

Gaitskell criticizes Conservative nuclear policy while Labour debates the future of the British deterrent

Unexpected death of Gaitskell