England's World Cup Record Under Conservative Governments

If you’re an England football fan and you struggle to stomach the thought of a Conservative Government in the UK, look away now. The stats on England’s World Cup record under Conservative governments are dire.

1930 – Labour Government led by Ramsey McDonald, soon-to-be head of Conservative-dominated National Government. England has fallen out with FIFA and doesn’t even enter the inaugural tournament held in Uruguay.

1934 – Ramsey McDonald National Government dominated by Conservatives. England and FIFA still in a huff with each other.

1938 – Conservative Government led by Neville Chamberlain. He has his own plans for surrendering to the Germans and Italians without the need for football. England gives the tournament in France a miss.

So that’s the first three World Cups out of the way – and England didn’t win any under a National or Conservative government. Not a good start.

1950 – Clement Attlee’s Labour Government. England crash out in the first group stage, losing to Spain and the US. 

1954 – Conservative Government headed by Winston Churchill. England reach the quarter finals but lose to Uruguay. Probably just as well. Hungary were up next.

1958 - Conservative Government headed by someone whose nickname sounds like he should have been a great footballer instead of an aristocrat. Super Mac (Harold Macmillan) has the dubious distinction of the first ever 0 – 0 World Cup draw to his name. England don’t get past the group stage.

1962 – Super Mac is still in power. Brazil and Garrincha put England out at the quarter final stage.

Four more tournaments down, three held during Conservative Governments. Oh dear.

1966 – Labour Government under Harold Wilson sees England finally win the ultimate prize.

1970 – England crash out at the quarter final stage as rumours of a Conservative election victory cause Alf Ramsey to lose the plot and substitute Bobby Charlton against West Germany.

1974 – England don’t qualify because of terrible record during Conservative Government.

1978 – England don’t qualify because of terrible record during Labour Government.

That’s another four tournaments accounted for; still Labour 1 Conservatives 0.

1982 – Conservative Government headed by a deranged old nutter. We can’t even beat Spain - and they lost to Northern Ireland.

1986 – Nutter still in power. She hates football and has implemented a ban on studs. This explains why England players all fall over as Maradona scores the winning goal in a 2 – 1 defeat.

1990 – England reach the semi-finals, an amazing achievement under a Conservative Government. Sadly, the ban on studs is still in place, leaving the players at a disadvantage during the penalty shoot out. Some fall over, others just seem to have forgotten how to shoot.

1994 – John Major is Conservative Prime Minister. England don’t qualify. You put the two together.

Another four wasted opportunities, all under Conservative governments. I think I can see a pattern emerging.

1998 – A New Labour government. England go out in the last 16. At least they qualified, unlike under you know who.

2002 – England lose in the quarter finals. Cynics blame their demise on similarities between New Labour and Conservative policies.

2006 - England lose in the quarter finals. See above.

So that’s 18 tournaments and one World Cup (under Labour). When we couldn’t be bothered, it was usually because we had a Conservative or National government. When we had a good chance of winning but didn’t, it was usually because we had a Conservative government. In 2010 we had a fantastic opportunity. Now there's a Coalition dominated by Conservatives. What have we done?