With the fighting in the Second World War all but done, the election hinged on the UK’s post-war future.
That state-planning in the form of rationing, decisive intervention in the economy and conscription in both the labour force and the armed services had served the country well during the war was not in dispute, whether it should continue in some other form was.
In the Labour manifesto Let Us Face the Future, the party promised nationalisation of numerous industries including coal, steel and iron.
And, unsurprisingly for a "Socialist Party, and proud of it", full employment was also high on the agenda, as was the promise of a free National Health Service.
Mr Churchill's Declaration of Policy to the Electors also mentioned commitments to welfare, health and the replacement of bomb-damaged housing, but was clear that there should be an end to wartime controls over the economy.
Building on the popularity of the Sir William Beveridge’s report, the Liberals promised to enact their party members' vision of full employment and a strong social security system.