The Conservative Party was returned to power with a small majority. It remained in office for thirteen years - increasing its majority when Anthony Eden replaced Churchill as prime minister in 1955. In 1957, Harold Macmillan replaced Eden following the Suez Crisis. \'Supermac\' as he was subsequently nicknamed, went on to win the election of 1959, and was briefly succeeded by Alec Douglas-Home in 1963. The early 1960s are remembered as an age of economic affluence and continued full employment. The standard of living improved steadily throughout the decade, as the global economy enjoyed boom conditions.
The British economy, however, continued to decline in relative terms. By the end of this period there was widespread pessimism about Britain\'s \'stagnant\' economic performance.
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