Why did the British Conservative Party accept many welfare-state policies after 1945?

Following the Labour Party’s victory in 1945 and the subsequent establishment of a welfare state and a mixed economy under Clement Attlee, the British Conservative Party underwent a significant strategic shift. When the Conservatives returned to power in 1951, they chose not to dismantle the majority of their predecessors' social innovations.12

Instead of reversing these policies, the party accepted the key tenets of the "postwar consensus," which included state responsibility for maintaining full employment and the use of John Maynard Keynes’s economic-demand management techniques. The Conservatives’ acceptance of these measures was driven by several factors:2

• Efficient Administration: The party claimed it could administer the welfare state more efficiently than Labour.1
• Political Competition: To maintain electoral appeal, the Conservatives even attempted to outbid their opponents with their own social spending programs, such as extensive house-building initiatives.12
• Pragmatic Adaptation: Having suffered a stunning defeat in 1945 due to the electorate's desire for social reform and economic security, the party reformed its policies and organization to better align with the public's expectations.2