1970-1979 Flashcards
What was discussed at Selsdon Park?
Tax reforms
Tougher immigration
Tougher on trade unions
Tax reforms
No bailing out of lame ducks
Election Results 1970-1979
1970 - Conservatives 30 seat majority
Feb 1974 - Labour no majority (hung parliament)
Oct 1974 - Labour 3 seat majority
1979 - Conservative 43 seat majority
Evidence for Selsdon U Turn
Nationalisation of Rolls Royce 1971
Pay outs for Upper Clyde Shipbuilders 1972
What reforms did Heath introduce?
School leaving age raised to 16
£ went decimal
Impact of the Yom Kippur oil crisis
Price of oil increased four times over
NUM demanded huge pay increases
7,000,000 days were lost due to strike action
Three-day week introduced
Willie Whitelaw moved from Northern Ireland Office to Minister of Employment to negotiate with the NUM
Miners Strike 1974
How did Heath control the Unions?
1971 Industrial Relations Act which was very similar to In Place of Strife (Strike ballots, 28-day cooling off period)
1972 Industry Act (collaboration between the government, TUC and CBI on agreeing wages, prices, investments and benefits
Details on 1972 strikes
Strikes by miners, ambulance drivers, firefighters and hospital staff
23,909,000 days were lost to strikes
What was the Conservative’s tagline for the 1974 General Election?
“Who governs Britain?” (reference to trade union militancy)
When was internment introduced?
1971
“One of the best recruiting tools the IRA ever had”
What were the developments of the IRA under Heath?
1971 Internment - 95% interned were Catholics
30th January 1972 Bloody Sunday as British soldiers fired on a march, killing 13
After Bloody Sunday, Stormont Parliament was suspended and rule was directly from Westminster
Sunningdale Agreement was agreed as it proposed power sharing of the unionists and Catholics (This was opposed by both parties)
What were the economic problems Wilson faced when he inherited the government in 1974?
15% inflation
Balance of payments defecit of £3 billion
What were the political problems Wilson faced when he took over in 1974?
Labour was dependant on other parties as a result of the hung parliament
How did the Labour government deal with the unions?
Benn and Foot were put in charge of the departments of industry and employment
Healy issued budgets that sought to deal with the economic crisis without instigating the unions
When did Wilson resign?
1976
Why was Callaghan initially seen as a promising leader?
“Safe pair of hands”
Experienced
Had good relations with the unions
What issues did Callaghan face when he became leader in 1976?
Balance of Payments
Pressure on the Sterling
How did Callaghan deal with the economic issues he faced?
IMF loan worth £3 billion (Very unpopular, seen as embarrassing, Healy was heckled as he received it)
Examples of improvements in the economy under Callaghan
By 1978:
Inflation fell to 10%
Unemployment was falling despite being 1.6 million
The number of days lost to industrial disputes was at a 10 year low
When and why was the Lib-Lab pact signed?
1977
To secure the position of Labour as their support was dwindling
What was agreed in the Lib-Lab Pact?
The Liberals would support Labour in the vote of no confidence as long as Labour moved ahead with devolution for Wales and Scotland
How did Labour prevent devolution?
40% of the electorate had to approve of it to pass including non-voters
What created the Winter of Discontent?
Pay increases were capped at 5%
Ford workers demanded a 20% increase and were granted a 15% pay rise.
This led to many other workers demanding pay rises and striking as a result
Examples of who went on strike in the Winter of Discontent
Grave diggers, hospital workers, lorry drivers and dustmen
