<P> On 8 May 1945, the Second World War ended in Europe, but rationing continued . Some aspects of rationing became stricter for some years after the war . At the time this was presented as needed to feed people in European areas under British control, whose economies had been devastated by the fighting . This was partly true, but with many British men still mobilised in the armed forces, an austere economic climate, and a centrally - planned economy under the post-war Labour government, resources were not available to expand food production and food imports . Frequent strikes by some workers (most critically dock workers) made things worse . A common ration book fraud was the ration books of the dead being kept and used by the living . </P> <P> In the late 1940s the Conservative Party exploited and incited growing public anger at rationing, scarcity, controls, austerity and government bureaucracy . They used the dissatisfaction with the socialistic and egalitarian policies of the Labour Party to rally middle - class supporters and build a political comeback that won the 1951 general election . Their appeal was especially effective to housewives, who faced more difficult shopping conditions after the war than during it . </P> <Ul> <Li> 27 May 1945: Bacon ration cut from 4 to 3 ounces / week . Cooking fat ration cut from 2 to 1 ounces / week . Soap ration cut by an eighth, except for babies and young children . The referenced newspaper article predicted that households would be grossly hampered in making food items that included pastry . </Li> <Li> 1 June 1945: The basic petrol ration for civilians was restored . </Li> <Li> 19 July 1945: In order to preserve the egalitarian nature of rationing, gift food parcels from overseas weighing more than 5 lb (2.3 kg) would be deducted from the recipient's ration . </Li> <Li> Summer 1946: Continual rain ruined Britain's wheat crop . Bread rationing started . </Li> <Li> January--March 1947: Winter of 1946--1947 in the United Kingdom: long hard frost and deep snow . Frost destroyed a huge amount of stored potatoes . Potato rationing started . </Li> <Li> Mid-1947: A transport and dock strike, which among other effects caused much loss of imported meat left to rot on the docks, until the Army broke the strike . The basic petrol ration was stopped . </Li> <Li> 1 June 1948: The Motor Spirit (Regulation) Act 1948 was passed, ordering a red dye to be to put into some petrol, and that red petrol was only allowed to be used in commercial vehicles . A private car driver could lose his driving licence for a year if red petrol was found in his car . A petrol station could be shut down if it sold red petrol to a private car driver . See List of Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 1940--1959: 1948 . </Li> <Li> June 1948: The basic petrol ration was restored, at a third of its previous size . </Li> <Li> 1948: Bread came off ration . </Li> <Li> May 1949: Clothes rationing ended . According to one author, this was because attempts to enforce it were defeated by continual massive illegality (black market, unofficial trade in loose clothing coupons (many forged), bulk thefts of unissued clothes ration books). </Li> <Li> 23 February 1950: The 1950 general election is fought largely on the issue of rationing . The Conservative Party campaigned on a manifesto of ending rationing as quickly as possible . The Labour Party argued for the continuation of rationing indefinitely . Labour was returned, but with its majority badly slashed to 5 seats . </Li> <Li> 26 May 1950: Petrol rationing ended . </Li> <Li> 25 October 1951: United Kingdom general election, 1951 . The Conservatives came back into power . </Li> <Li> February 1953: Confectionery rationing ended . </Li> <Li> September 1953: Sugar rationing ended . </Li> <Li> 4 July 1954: Meat and all other food rationing ended in Britain . </Li> </Ul> <Li> 27 May 1945: Bacon ration cut from 4 to 3 ounces / week . Cooking fat ration cut from 2 to 1 ounces / week . Soap ration cut by an eighth, except for babies and young children . The referenced newspaper article predicted that households would be grossly hampered in making food items that included pastry . </Li>

What was the last to be derationed after ww2