1970 - 1979 Flashcards
CONSERVATIVE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What were the aims and objectives summed up on?
The Selsdon manifesto
CONSERVATIVE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What were the Conservative’s progressive policies?
Reduce the rise in prices, curb unemployment and increase productivity
CONSERVATIVE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Did the Conservatives want to break away from consensus politics?
Yes. This attitude was summed up in the conservative manifesto and referred to as a ‘new type of conservatism’
CONSERVATIVE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What did the conservatives want to abandon?
The prices and income policy, opting for a hands off approach
CONSERVATIVE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What would the Heath government not seek to impose?
A wage freeze or intervene with payment settlements. Instead, market forces would be allowed to operate allowing free bargaining between employees and workers
CONSERVATIVE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What was required to make free bargaining genuine and fair?
Trade unions to not have a headstart: a key reason behind the Industrial Relations Act 1971
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What was the government’s key concern?
The power of trade unions
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
When and why was the industrial relations act introduced?
In 1971, to specify what trade unions could and could not do
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
Who was employment secretary?
Robert Carr
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What did the act mean?
The government could impose cooling off periods and demand ballots. A distinction was made between official and wildcat strikes.
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
Did unions oppose the act?
Yes… bitterly
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What happened in February 1971?
140,000 union members marched through London shouting ‘kill the bill’
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What did the TUC tell it’s members to do?
Deregister and defy the NIRC if action was bought against them
THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What did unions exploit?
A loophole in the act by refusing to make agreements unless employers agreed such agreements were not legally binding
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What did conservatives come to power claiming?
Inflation was a menace and to reduce it was a priority, yet during their time in governance inflation actually went up
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
Whenever inflation went up, what happened?
Unions would demand higher wages and to allow this employers would raise good prices - this caused an inflationairy spiral
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What was the government itself?
A major employer (nationalization)
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
Which one of it’s agencies had been gradually decreasing in size as the industry itself shrank?
The National Coal Board
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
Why was the NCB discontented?
Following years of improving pay miners had fallen back during the 1960s
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What did union boss Joe Gormley succeed in 1971?
Gaining a 14% pay rise
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What was refused in 1972 and what did this result in?
A further pay rise, leading to the first national coal strike since 1926
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
Through the use of flying pickets, what did the NUM quickly succeed in?
Creating a fuel crisis, with picket lines that members of other unions refused to cross
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What was the power shortage made worse by?
The winter weather, a state of emergency was declared
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
After 7 weeks of striking what happened?
The miners accepted an improved offer from the NBC
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
Why was the pay rise undermined?
There was a high rate of inflation.
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
Why was the gov keen to avoid paying the miners more?
It was attempting to limit rises both public and private
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What did the 1973 oil crisis do?
Push up the price of coal
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What did the NUM convince their members?
That backed by the state the government could put forward another pay rise
MINERS STRIKE 1972 AND 74
What did the 1974 strike do?
So reduced the availability of power that the gov was forced to introduce a three day working week to avoid running out of fuel
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What did Heath calculate?
The government would be able to survive the strikes for longer than the miners
THE THREE DAY WEEK
In December 1973, what did Heath announce?
From the end of the year ‘most industrial and commercial premises will be limited in the use of electricity to three specified days a week’
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What were restrictive measures introduced similar to?
War time austerity
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What were the results of the three day week?
- Electricity blackouts interfered w industrial production
- Ordinary people going wout electricity
THE THREE DAY WEEK
When the miners dispute was eventually settled what pay rise did the NUM get?
21% - nearly 3x the amount originally offered
THE THREE DAY WEEK
Was the three day week successful for Heath?
No, it marked a major defeat for government
THE THREE DAY WEEK
Embarked by their 21% pay rise, what did the NUM then go on to do?
Strike again in 1974 in pursuit of a further wage demand. This was too much for Heath who instantly called another election.
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
How many seats did the conservatives get?
297
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
How many seats did Labour get?
301
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
Who moved against the conservatives?
Enoch Powell
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What did Labour make a case for?
Increased central planning
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
Who was the liberal leader?
Jeremy Thorpe
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What was the liberals campaign?
‘Change the face of britain’
THE 1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What did the election results show?
Movement towards the liberals (14 seats)
LABOUR’S RETURN TO POWER
What type of government was Labour?
A minority government - meaning had to rely on other parties
LABOUR’S RETURN TO POWER
By October 1974, what did Wilson feel safe enough to do?
Call a general election, gained 18 seats
LABOUR’S RETURN TO POWER
What was Labour’s overall majority by October 1974?
3
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 1974 - 76
Why did Wilson act quickly?
Wanted to demonstrate labour better equipped to deal w trade unions than the conservatives
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 1974 - 76
What did Wilson negotiate with the TUC in 1973?
The social contract
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 1974 - 76
Was agreement quickly reached?
Yes - gov didn’t want confrontation, ended 3 day week
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
What was Heath’s stance on the EEC?
A convinced europhile
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
From 1961, what had heath been?
Macmillan’s negotiatior in attempts to join the EEC
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
What did Heath say in the 1970 election?
He would not take Britain into the EEC without ‘full hearted consent’ of parliament and people
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
As PM from 1970 what did Heath quickly do?
Reopened negotiations w the EEC
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
What happened in 1971?
With no president DeGaulle to veto and no suggestion of sterling devaluation Britain was accepted as a member
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATION
Was Britain’s acceptance divisive?
Yes - many cons and labour members demanded a membership referendum
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
When did Britain officially join the EEC?
The 1st of January 1973
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
Had a referendum occured?
No - noting this fact the opposition made sure it’s manifesto promised future renegotiations. Heath’s terms of membership would then be put to the public to decide
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
Was Labour’s manifesto move popular?
Yes, ensured there was no party split
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
What happened accordingly when Wilson gained power?
He renegotiated (although little was changed) and organised the 1975 referendum act. The question determined by the act was ‘do you think that the UK should remain part of the EEC?’
THE EEC & EUROPEAN RELATIONS
Who backed yes?
Labour left, conservative right
THE EEC REFERENDUM
What did trade unions and the Labour left say about the EEC?
‘A capitalist club’
THE EEC REFERENDUM
To improve relations w trade unions what did Wilson pledge?
To renegotiate EEC terms. This was largely a gesture because no major changes were made.
THE EEC REFERENDUM
Once Wilson renegotiated what did he do?
Called an entry referendum in 1975
THE EEC REFERENDUM
How were MP’s told to vote?
Personally not as a party, which caused an interesting cross party divide
THE EEC REFERENDUM
Who were mainly pro-Europe?
Labour leaders, Conservatives and liberals
THE EEC REFERENDUM
Who were mainly pro Europe?
Labour leaders, conservatives and liberals
THE EEC REFERENDUM
Who were mainly against Europe?
Most of Labour
THE EEC REFERENDUM
Which Labour members supported Europe?
Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins
THE EEC REFERENDUM
Which Labour members did not support Europe?
Tony Benn, Barbara Castle
THE EEC REFERENDUM
What percentage voted yes?
64.5%
THE EEC REFERENDUM
What percentage voted no?
35.5%
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
When did the winter of discontent begin?
Autumn 1978
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
What initially started the winter of discontent?
The TUC rejected Labour’s proposed wage increase of 5%, causing trade unions to put in higher demands
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
What did ford lorry drivers achieve?
A 15% pay rise after a 9 week strike. More unions followed example, such as train drivers. Resultantly, there were mass travel disruptions.
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
Where else was there shock and outrage?
From members of the public sector, such as hospital porters, binmen and gravediggers. Rubbish piled up and bodies went unburied.
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
Whilst the WOD was happening what was Callaghan being pictured doing?
Swimming in the tropics - hindered his public image
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
Was the industrial unrest as bad as the previous miners strikes?
No, but the psychological impact deeply scarred public mood. It stuck with labour long after the end of Callaghan’s premiership in 1979
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT
When were disputes bought to an end?
March 1979, the average pay increase was 10%
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
At the 1978 Labour party conference what did Callaghan decide to do?
Postpone the general election, which turned out to be a mistake because by spring 1979 the political landscape had been reshaped by the winter of discontent and the economy had deteriorated
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
Describe trade union relationships?
Damaged
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
In march 1979 what did the labour government receive?
A vote of no confidence surrounding the issue of scottish devolution. The government was forced to resign for the first time since a premiership in 1924
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
What happened to images of the winter of discontent?
They circulated the media for months, helping the tories election campaign
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
Despite issues, did the labour vote uphold well?
Yes - only dipping by about 3%
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
What did the tories benefit from?
Sharp fall in support for the liberals and the SNP. The result was by no means a landslide but gave them a comfortable working majority of 43.
THE TROUBLES: CONS
What was Heath’s aim within NI?
‘An acceptable level of violence’
THE TROUBLES: CONS
What was an initial response?
Internment - operation demetrius, 342 suspected IRA members detained wout trial
THE TROUBLES: CONS
What did internment cause?
Riots, violence and more hostility
THE TROUBLES: CONS
What were political institutions?
Designed to exclude the catholics
THE TROUBLES: CONS
How did groups such as NIRCA respond?
Raising the issues of civil rights, there was fear this would infringe upon protestant rights
THE TROUBLES: CONS
What were demonstrations called to protest?
The effective disenfranchisement and socioeconomic disadvantages suffered by Roman Catholics in NI