In July 1945, Labour won a massive victory, with 393 seats to the Conservatives' 213. This was the first time Labour had won an overall majority and now it would be able to achieve its most cherished objectives - a welfare state, nationalisation, work for everybody, and an open foreign policy based on genuine co-operation. Unfortunately the government was hampered by the most appalling economic problems in the aftermath of the war and without American aid she lacked capital to bring the economy back to normal.

The government was responsible for a remarkable though controversial set of achievements therefore I think that the Atlee government successfully achieved the hopes and aims of its planners.

Disregarding any controversies about the government, the primary aim of the Attlee government was to provide the best possible social services for everybody. In November 1942 the Beveridge Report was produced, its proposals were just a rationalization and...