1970 - 79 Flashcards
CONS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What were Heath’s original aims?
He intended to reduce unemployment, reduce the rise in prices and increase productivity.
CONS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
What did Heath’s government decide economically?
To abandon the prices and income and policy, no wage for salary freezes and simply allowing market forces to act. However, to make such an economy fair trade unions must not have an unequal start. This led to the industrial relations act.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
Who introduced the industrial relations act?
Employment secretary Robert Carr
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What actions were taken?
Industrial relations court set up and a distinction was made between official and wildcat strikes
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
Did the TUC oppose the project and if so who were they supported by?
Yes, supported by the Labour party
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT
What happened in February 1971?
140,000 union members marched through London shouting “kill the bill”
MINERS STRIKES
Why was there an inflationary spiral?
Inflation increased, trade unions demanded higher wages so industries would raise good prices to allow this
MINERS STRIKES
Why was the national coal board growing discontented?
The industry was nationalised and gradually shrinking in size and it’s average pay was less than the national average
MINERS STRIKES
What pay rise did union leader Joe Gormley manage to secure for the NUC in 1971?
14%
MINERS STRIKES
What happened when in 1972 a further NUC pay rise was refused?
The first ever miners strike, which quickly succeeded in creating a fuel crisis
MINERS STRIKES
Why was a state of emergency declared in 1972?
A power shortage coincided with bad winter weather
MINERS STRIKES
What happened after 7 weeks of striking?
The NUC accepted an improved offer
MINERS STRIKES
Why was this pay rise undermined?
High rates of inflation
MINERS STRIKES
Why did the 1972 strike become worse?
It coincided with the international oil price rise, meaning power was significantly reduced causing the imposition of the three day week
THE THREE DAY WEEK
Rather than give into the miners what did Heath decide to do?
Defeat them by imposing severe limits on the use of fuel, Heath calculated that the government could outlast the miners on strike
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What restrictive measures were introduced?
Limits on the amount of electricity which could be used by industries
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What were the results of the three day week?
Restrictive measures similar to war time austerity, electricity blackouts interfered with industrial production and ordinary people often were going without electricity
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What percentage pay rise did the miners get once disputes were settled?
21%, 3x what they were originally going to get, major defeat for the Heath government
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What happened because of their success?
The NUM again went on strike in pursuit of further wage increases
THE THREE DAY WEEK
What did Heath resultantly do because of the strike in 1974?
Called an election
THE TROUBLES
What was Heath’s aim in Northern Ireland?
“An acceptable level of violence”
THE TROUBLES
What was Heath’s first policy?
Internment: 342 suspected IRA members were detained, caused riots, violence and more hostility
THE TROUBLES
Why were there protests?
Due to the effective disenfranchisement and socio-economic disadvantages suffered by Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland
THE TROUBLES
What happened in 1968?
A planned demonstration in London Derry, police attacked protestors which highlighted discrimination
THE TROUBLES
Describe bloody sunday
- January 1972
- PM of NI banned protests for the year
- Despite, a demonstration amounted and an estimated 12,000 people took part in London Derry
- A minority broke away and threw stones at British paratroopers
- Paratroopers fired back and killed 14 civilians
THE TROUBLES
What did the government conclude about bloody sunday?
The soldiers had responded to gun and bomb attacks, caused anger from catholic MPs such as Bernadette Devin
THE TROUBLES
What did the PIRA demand after bloody sunday?
NI to have political sovereignty, for the British army to be publicly withdrawn and political prisoners released
THE TROUBLES
What were Diplock courts and why were they created?
They aided internment and made it easier to arrest the convicted
THE TROUBLES
What was recognised in 1973?
Ireland presented a political, policing and security threat
THE TROUBLES
Describe the Sunningdale agreement
Parliament agreed a devolution plan for NI, proportional representation to replace the Stormont parliament and a consutive council of Ireland allowed all members of the political divide to meet
THE TROUBLES
Did both sides agree to the Sunningdale agreement?
Yes
THE TROUBLES
What did the Sunningdale agreement lead to?
The negotiations led to an executive bringing together of Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance party
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What percentage of votes did the Conservatives lose?
8.5%
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What did the election results show?
Moving away from both Conservative and Labour and movement towards the liberals
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What was Labour’s election campaign?
Increased central planning
1974 GENERAL ELECTION
What was the Liberals campaign?
Jeremy Thorpe: “change the face of Britain”
LABOUR’S RETURN TO POWER
What were the 5 problems Labour had when they came to power?
- Dire economic situation: inflation at 15% and £3 billion balance of deficits
- Northern Ireland
- Trade unions
- Labour party less united
- Wilson much older
LABOUR’S RETURN TO POWER
Did the Labour government have a minority or majority?
A majority government
LABOUR’S RETURN TO POWER
What did Wilson do in October 1974?
He called a new election, Labour gained 18 more seats, overall majority was just 3
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: LABOUR
What did Wilson do quickly?
Demonstrate that the Labour party was more equipped to deal with trade unions, gave them what they wanted
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: LABOUR
What was Wilson able to end?
The three day week :)
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
What did Ford lorry drivers achieve after a nine week strike?
A 15% pay rise
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
What did the lorry pay rise cause?
Outrage from other unions… train drivers, hospital porters, binmen, grave diggers etc. They all went on strike.
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
What was the impact of all the strikes?
Rubbish piled up and bodies went unburied, the psychological impact of the winter of discontent deeply scarred public mood and remained with Labour for many years to come.
THE WINTER OF DISCONTEMPT
How did the winter of discontempt end?
In March 1979 the average pay was increased by 10%
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
What did Heath’s government seem to show?
Some progress seemed to have been made, but the Sunningdale agreement itself was precarious and insecure
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
Describe the collapse of the Sunningdale agreement
- The IRA campaign persisted
- Within days loyalist paramilitary groups formed a coalition under the name “Ulster Army Council”
- The unionists voted against continued participation in the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Loyalist workers called a general strike which led to rioting
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
What did the IRA begin moving to?
Attacking mainland Britain, setting of bombs in Birmingham, Guildford and Woolwich.
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
What happened to the NIIC?
It could not reach agreements and soon lapsed
PROBLEMS OF NI: LABOUR
How was some new optimism created?
1976: The development of a grassroots peace movement led by two catholic women, caused peace movements all over the world