1970-1979 Politics: Labour (Unit 3, Topic 2) Flashcards
Political, economic and industrial problems and policies, Problems of Northern Ireland.
What is Social Contract?
Voluntary pay restraint by the trade unions and in return the government would repel Heath’s Industrial Act and pay board
What is the International Monetary Fund?
Formed at the end of the WWII, it was designed to promote economic stability and growth across the world
What is a Vote of No Confidence?
A vote on whether the government is considered able to continue governing, if lost then the government must call a general election
What is a Referendum?
A public vote held on a particular issue
What is Devolution?
Transfer of power to lower levels of government
What were the Industrial Relations Labour brought in?
-They negotiated a social contract with the Trades Union Congress
-Agreements were met with the National Union of Miners and ended the three day weeks
-The new chancellor, Denis Healey issued two new budgets in March and July to deal with the economic crisis
What were the Economic Reforms Labour brought in?
-April 1975 budgets imposed steep rises in taxation and public spending was cut
-The National Enterprise Board set up in 1974 to administer the governments shareholdings in private companies and give financial aid
-The social contract didn’t limit wage demands
-1975 formal pay restraint policy
-March 1976 Harold Wilson suddenly resigned
What is the IMF Loan?
An agreed loan of £3 billion in September 1976, which was mostly used to repay Central Banks which had been offering loans to support the value of the Pound. The government had to make big spending cuts hopefully to restore the economy
Why didn’t Labour achieve Devolution?
Callaghan promised to have devolution for Wales and Scotland, however Wales was very much against it but Scotland favored it. But a simple majority was not enough and devolution didn’t occur
What was the Winter of Discontent?
In Autumn 1978, the TUC rejected Labours 5% wage increase. More unions would ask for increasing pay. The wave of action disrupted transport through lorry driver strikes and from the train drivers union. The industrial unrest from clerical staff, gravediggers, public sector workers. Brought to an end in 1979 and pay increased by 10% but it had devastating impact on public mood
How did Labour lose Power?
By 1979, there had been a political landscape caused by the ‘winter of discontent’. The economic situation had deteriorated and the reputation of the trade unions was damaged. Then in March 1979, the government lost a vote of no confidence and was forced to resign. Overall, Labour maintained a strong voting , but the Conservatives won by majority of 43. The Conservatives promised to control inflation and keep the unions in check
Why was Northern Ireland still a Problem for the British Government?
Both the loyalists and republicans were opposed and the UUP were against the Sunningdale Agreement. The Ulyster Workers Council set a strike on the 15th of May 1974, it severely limited power and telecommunication and the government declared a state of emergency. An elected body would now determine the future of Northern Ireland.
What Happened after the Unionists Won Power in Northern Ireland?
The unionists won majority and were against any form of power sharing, the convection was dissolved in 1976. The government made terrorist prisoners into political prisoners so were treated like the average criminal. This was vey disliked by the Paramilitaries.
The criminals didn’t want to wear the prison uniform with the ‘terrorist prisoners’ and this became the blanket protest by the IRLA and IRA prisoners. This escalated to the dirty protest were excrement was smeared over the cell walls. The country became out of control
