1964-1970 Flashcards
What were the election results of the period?
1964 - 4 seat majority
1966 - 98 seat majority
1970 - 30 seat majority Conservatives
What was Wilson’s political outlook?
Bevanite
Left of Labour
Had resigned over perscription charges
What were Wilson’s economic policies?
Modernisation as Britain was lagging behind West Germany and Japan
Break out of the cycle of stop-go, runs on the pound and balance of payments defecits
Why was Wilson opposed to deflation and devaluation?
Deflation - continued the stop-go cycle
Devaluation - would portray Britain as weaker and lead to them scaling back actions across the globe
What was the balance of payments deficit Wilson inherited?
£800m
How did Britain attempt to deal with the balance of payments deficit?
By creating the DEA led by George Brown
This was intended to control inflation and to end the stop-go cycle
What was the relationship between the DEA and Callaghan?
They were in competition as the DEA opposed many of Callaghan’s policies
What was the outcome of the DEA
Brown was moved to foreign affairs in 1966
The DEA was abandoned in 1967
When were the Seamen and Dockers strikes?
Seamen 1966
Dockers 1967
What did Wilson denounce them as and what was the reaction to this?
“a tightly knit group of Marxists”
Many on the left of the party were outraged by this
What did the Seamen strike cause?
A sterling crisis
What was the pound devalued by in 1967?
14%
$2.80 to $2.40
What caused the need for a pound devaluation?
Oil crisis in the Middle East affecting oil supplies
Dockers Strike in 1967 affecting the balance of payments
When was the second EEC application rejected?
1967
Why did the devaluation damage Labour’s credibility?
Labour had tried so hard to prevent devaluation
Made Britain look weak
Who replaced Callaghan as chancellor in 1967?
Roy Jenkins
Where did Callaghan go after being replaced as chancellor?
Home Secretary
How did Jenkins prevent the balance of payments deficit?
Deflationary measures (raising taxes and cutting spending)
What was the impact of Jenkins’ deflationary measures?
Balance of Payments surplus in 1969
Labour government experienced decreased popularity
Who created and when was “In Place of Strife”?
Barbara Castle
1969
What was suggested within “In Place of Strife”?
28-day cooling off periods
Strike ballots
Industrial Relations Court for persecutors
The government had the ability to impose a settlement when two unions disagreed
What was Frank Cousins’ role under Wilson?
Minister of Technology
Relied on the unions for his prices and incomes policy
What was the result of “In Place of Strife”?
Opposed by the Left and unions
Wilson gave in, embarrassing the government
What were the flaws of the government in modernisation?
The government lacked expertise
Jenkins who had been Minister of Aviation admitted to finding meetings a briefings difficult to understand
What was the state of Labour divisions from 1964-1970?
Modernisation united the party
What was the key quote about modernisation?
“white heat of technological revolution” - Wilson
What was the state of the post-war consensus by 1970?
It had broken down with trade unions ceasing to cooperate
Why was the Conservative’s victory in 1970 surprising?
Labour had been successful in navigating difficult times such as Jenkin’s handling of the economy
What made people vote Conservative in 1970?
Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech (although Powell was sacked and not allowed to take part in the election campaign)
Selsdon Policies
Details on the end of capital punishment
Temporarily ended in 1965 and permanently ended in 1969
Cause supported due to the death of Ruth Ellis and Derek Bentley
Details on the divorce reform
1969
“no fault divorce” which previously required evidence of adultery
Couples could divorce if they had lived apart for 2 years and both wanted a divorce or if they had lived apart for 5 years and one wanted a divorce
Details on the abortion reform
Until 1967 it had only been allowed on medical grounds
Before the reform 35,000 women were admitted to hospital weekly as a result of back street abortions
In 1966, the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child was created to oppose the legalisation of abortion
Thalidomide aided the passing of the reform
141,000 abortions by 1975
Details on the sexual offences act
1967
Allowed homosexual acts in private with the age of consent being 21
Details on the education reform
By the 1960s, secondary modern students were viewed as grammar school rejects and the majority of grammar school students were middle class
Circular 10/65 requested to all Local Education Authorities to convert to comprehensive schools
The Robbins Report found that Britain lagged behind France, Germany and the USA in the provision of university places
The Open University was established in 1969 and used TV and radio for distanced learning
When was the voting age lowered to 18?
1969
When were the race relations act passed?
1965
1968
Evidence for issues regarding race?
1965:
1 in 5 opposed to working with a black or an Asian
9 in 10 opposed to mixed marriages
What were the terms of the 1965 Race Relations Act?
No discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, religion and nationality in public
What were the terms of the 1968 Race Relations Act?
No discrimination on the grounds of race on the grounds of housing or employment
There could still be racism on the grounds of employment for “racial balance”
When did the Notting Hill Carnival become an event?
1964
Why were there strains in the special relationship?
Wilson only provided morale support for the USA’s action in Vietnam
This was because Britain couldn’t afford military involvement and needed to retain the support of the USA to prevent devaluation
What was Labour’s stance on the EEC?
Wilson wasn’t committed to joining the EEC
Foot and Castle were Eurosceptic
Brown and Jenkins were Europhiles
Wilson favoured relations with the USA but could see the benefits to integrating with Europe
Why was there withdrawal East of Suez?
Labour had to make spending cuts of £2 billion beginning with withdrawals from Aden, Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East
Post 1968, withdrawals rapidly increased
When did Ian Smith issue a Unilateral Declaration for Rhodesian Independence and without what?
1965
Without black majority rule
What battleships did Wilson and Smith meet on?
1966 HMS Tiger
1968 HMS Fearless
Smith did nothing once he returned to Rhodesia
Details on sanctions Wilson imposed on Rhodesia
Wilson imposed oil sanctions
These were ineffective as Rhodesia could get oil still from Mozambique and oil companies and continued to trade with South Africa
