Harold Macmillan’s famous declaration that “most of our people have never had it so good” came in July 1957 at a time when the country was riding high on the post-war economic boom.
Full employment combined with an unprecedented rise in consumerism meant millions of Britons saw their standard of living rise.
Mr Macmillan, who was speaking at a Tory rally in Bedford six months after becoming the Conservative Prime Minister, painted a rosy picture of the economy, which was benefiting from increased production in major industries such as coal and steel.
Wages, exports and investment were all up and compared to the austerity of the war years, his assessment rang true for many people across the land.
Mr Macmillan told Tory supporters: “Go around the country, go to the industrial towns, go to the farms and you will see a state of prosperity such as we have never had in my lifetime – nor indeed in the history of this country.”
Loz x