1964-1970 Flashcards
Who was in power 1964-1970
Harold wilson
Why did Labour win the 1964 election?
labour presented a younger and more modern image
more unity in the party after 1960
Wilsons personal appeal to electorate
Wilsons election campaign with focus on “white heat” of technology
why did Wilson appeal to the electorate
state-educated
smoked a pipe
seen as classless
yorkshire accent
skilful and relaxed tv performer
why did the conservatives lose the 1964 election
they were in power for 13yrs “time for change”
Scandals- Profumo affair- old and out of touch
sackings- night of long knives 1962 dented public confidence
economic issues- unemployment 800000 in 1963, huge public spending cuts
rejection of EEC application 1963
positive economic indicators
gov survived sterling crises of 1965 and 1966
roy Jenkins was successful chancellor of Exechequr from 1967-70
1969 balance of payments surplus achieved
how was roy Jenkins a successful chancellor of the Exchequer
he raised taxes and tightened gov spending
what countries was Britain lagging behind in 1964
west Germany and Japan
what was the inherited deficit in 1964
£800m
why was the cabinet dithered over how to solve the economy
did not want to deflate or devalue as they were worried about not meeting the manifesto commitments and weakening Britain globally
What was the DEA set up to do
try and establish national economic planning but conflict with treasury led to it failing in 1967
when was the prices and incomes policy and what did it lead to
1966 led to strikes and sterling crisis
What was the prices and incomes policy?
Government intervention to set limits on price rises and to call for wage restraint in negotiations between unions and employers
what affected the balance of payments in 1967
Middle East war and national dock strike (seaman strike)
what did the Middle East war and the seaman strike cause the gov to do
to devalue pound- its value dropped by 14%
when was the second EEC application rejected
1967
what was inflation running at 1969-70
12%
by 1970 what was Britain still stuck in
stop-go cycle
what are wildcat strikes
Sudden, unofficial local disputes begun without reference to the national leadership
what did George brown and DEA try to establish
voluntary agreement about wages and prices with industrialists, TU leaders and civil servants- need to get restraint so inflation won’t rise so no need for controls
Was Browns and DEA’s plan successful?
DEA came to nothing, Prices and income policy introduced and led to strikes by seamen and dockers (wildcat)
what was the outcome of the strikes being defeated
left ppl shocked w how critical of strikers Wilson was
When was “In Place of Strife”?
1969
What was ‘In Place of Strife’?
proposed act to use the law to reduce the power of trade unions- used to limit wildcat strikes
what were some of the terms that the TU’s didn’t accept
28 day cooling off period
gov imposed settlements between disputing unions
strike ballots
industrial relations court
what did the terms the TU’s didn’t accept cause
a split in the Labour Party (left of party hated idea) and led to protests from major TU leaders (Jack jones)
support for abandoning in place of strife
could cause controversy (political suicide)
keep good relations w TU
avoid splitting Labour Party
support for pushing through in place of strife
show control (wildcat strikes)
stop destruction
stop unnecessary protests
weaken TU’s
strengthen economy
voters like idea
TUC negotiated face-saving compromise but was humiliating climbdown by gov
when were the seamen strikes
1966
what did seamen strikes cause
sterling crisis
why did the seamen strike
worked too many hours for too little pay
what did Wilson do that united the left and right of the party
concentration on technological modernisation and minimised underlying tensions (eg. Clause IV)
what did wilson fear
face a leadership challenge from brown, Callaghan or Jenkins
issues w brown
resentment for losing leadership election to wilson
disappointed he was foreign secretary in 1964
rumours that Wilson kept record of browns embarrassing incidents
issues w Jenkins
didn’t support Jenkins liberalising legislation
Jenkins suggestion for devaluation after seaman strikes made Wilson think he was trying to replace him
why can Wilson be critiqued
his attention was devoted to keeping party united and stop his colleagues from threatening his position
what does “the troubles” describe
cycle of violence from 1960 to 1990 from conflict between nationalists and unionists
dates of anglo-irish war (Irish war of independence)
1919-1921
what did the 1921 treaty lead to
partition between Southern Ireland and six countries in ulster which became Northern Ireland
define partition
separation of NI from the rest of Ireland
Define ulster
the 6 countys which became NI
Define ulster unionists
supporters of the union of England Wales Scotland and northern Ireland
define nationalists/republicans
supporters of independence for a united Ireland (whole)
who are the IRA (Irish republican army)
organisation that fought for independence in Irish war of independence (didn’t like partition of Ireland)
who was Sinn Fein
main catholic republican political party of Ireland and NI
what did the 1964 civil right movement cause
challenged discrimination against catholics in terms of housing, employment and electoral boundaries
Tensions rose- unionists feared IRA would set up violent campaign so they set up their own paramilitary organisation to defend the union of GB and NI