Catalogue Number
NMLH.1995.39.95
Object Name
Poster
Title
'He's got brains, and doesn't want them wasted - so it's Labour For Prosperity. National control of industry means greater scope for managers, technicians and administrators.'
People
Labour Party, Philip Zec (artist)
Events
Elections, 1945 General Election, World War II
Date
1945
Creator(s)
Zec
Description
A black and white drawing of a man with glasses, with the message: 'He's got brains, and doesn't want them wasted - so it's Labour For Prosperity. National control of industry means greater scope for managers, technicians and administrators.'
This poster was designed for the Labour Party's 1945 general election campaign by Philip Zec (1909 - 1983). Zec was a well known left wing cartoonist, who had been a war artist for the Daily Mirror newspaper. He refused payment for the commission, seeing it as his contribution to the election campaign. At the end of World War II (1939-1945) Britain was in urgent need of reconstruction. In the General Election of 1945, the Labour Party addressed this issue effectively in its campaign slogans.
During the election campaign, Labour presented itself as a modernising force intent on utilizing the nation's abilities so as to achieve prosperity for all, not just the few, using methods including nationalisation of industry. This and Labour's aim to introduce the Welfare state were the main reasons why Labour, led by Clement Attlee, won the General Election. Winston Churchill, the great inspiring national leader during the war, and leader of the Conservative Party, lost largely because he opposed these policies.
*On Display*
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