# Political Crises Since 1945

- Institution: Gresham College
- Speaker: Professor Sir Vernon Bogdanor FBA CBE
- Year: 2015
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Society and politics, History
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/series/political-crises-1945)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

The NHS had been established by the post-war Labour government in 1948. By 1951, there were already heavy pressures on health spending. In addition, after the Korean War broke out in 1950, Britain decided to rearm. In his budget, the Chancellor, Hugh Gaitskell, sought to balance his budget by imposing charges on false teeth and spectacles. Two cabinet ministers resigned in protest – Aneurin Bevan, architect of the health service, and Harold Wilson, the future Prime Minister.

## Lectures

1. [The National Health Service Crisis, 1951](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-political-crises-1945/d8febb5557fd) (YouTube)
2. [The Suez Crisis, 1956](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-political-crises-1945/e0f8e8941f4c) (YouTube)
3. [The IMF Crisis, 1976](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-political-crises-1945/2e4b3446979a) (YouTube)
4. [The Falklands War, 1982](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-political-crises-1945/96e4cccb4dee) (YouTube)
5. [Leaving the ERM, 1992](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-political-crises-1945/40d9f99d80c5) (YouTube)
6. [The Iraq War, 2003](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-political-crises-1945/16ca344962c6) (YouTube)