1970 election Flashcards
Possible question: “Economic problems during Labour’s tenure was the main reason for defeat in 1970” Give 2 other reasons
Losses of traditional Labour strongholds in by-elections
Tory policies against Wilson’s personality
How did economic problems lead to Labour’s defeat?
People were fed up strikes in the middle class and the failure of ‘In Place of Strife’ whereas in the working class people felt betrayed by how unions (Seaman Strike etc) had been treated by the government. The party was also split over how to deal with unions.
People had been aware of the instability during the time of devaluation and deflation like the sterling crisis. Also 3 days before polling the press leaked that for April there would be a BOP deficit of £31 million.
How is it arguable that the economy wasn’t that big of a factor?
In 1969 and early 1970 the economy had been greatly improving - in January 1970 he was a BOP surplus of £387 million and the pound had reached its highest level in 2 years. Exports were also at their highest level ever - £630 million showing productivity had been improved.
How did by-election defeats mean defeat for Labour?
They were unparalleled in four years they lost 16 of the 31 seats they were defending (Tories lost 10 in 13 years). The swings to the Tories were also as big as 10% showing a great shift away from Labour’s policies. Some of these were in Labour strongholds like Dudley and Walthamstow.
The upcoming Nationalist parties were also causing issues as Labour lost seats in Plaid Cymru even in the welsh labour stronghold of the Rhondda Valley. Also the SNP took the seat in Hamilton in 1967 which was considered the safest Labour seat in Scotland.
How did the Tories defeat Labour with their policies?
The Tories presented a campaign that criticised the government’s record which included a more factual and policy based argument. Also they included popular public issues like tax cuts, harsher laws on trade unions and cutting state aid for the ‘lame ducks’ of industry,
Whereas Wilson relied a lot on his personality and sought to come across as a very reliable pair of hands but the public may have seen it as complacent and overly assured. He had little substance and policy in his campaign which Barbara Castle said angered the ‘silent majority’
What were the results of the 1970 election?
There was a 4.7% swing to the Conservatives - Labour lost 60 seats but the Tories only had a small majority of 43.
