Political Developments: Both 1974 Election Results

Question 1

When did the First 1974 election happen?

Answer 1

February

Question 2

When did the second 1974 election happen?

Answer 2

October

Question 3

Why did Heath call for an election in February?

Answer 3

He wanted to ask the country if the unions or the government ran the country

Question 4

How did the public respond to Heath’s question on who ran the country?

Answer 4

Said the unions ran it

Question 5

Which party got a seat majority in the February election?

Answer 5

Neither of the partys

Question 6

What did the split in votes in the February election show?

Answer 6

People could not decide if Conservatives could stay or if Labour would mess it up

Question 7

How did Wilson get Labour to be the ruling party after the February election?

Answer 7

He created a coalition of other parties to get a majority

Question 8

What main parties did Wilson combine with the Labour seat majority?

Answer 8

Scottish National Party
Liberals

Question 9

What was the organisation of party’s for a majority called?

Answer 9

Lib-Lab pact

Question 10

What election did the Lib-Lab pact occur?

Answer 10

October 1974 election

Question 11

What are 2 ways that Labour tried to get more support for the October election?

Answer 11

Ended 3 day weeks
Paid off the Trade Unions

Question 12

Who were 2 significant politicians who opposed Heath’s leadership in February 1974 election?

Answer 12

Enoch Powell, not wanting to be part of the EEC
Margaret Thatcher, believing Heath shouldve kept initial economic policies

Question 13

What did Labour form with the Trade Unions to try and get their support?

Answer 13

Social contract

Question 14

What is a social contract?

Answer 14

An informal agreement in which unions give up wage demands to protect their existence

Question 15

What did Labour do in the social contract?

Answer 15

They repealed everything from the 1971 Industrial Relations Act

Question 16

What were some things Labour removed from the 1971 Industrial Relations Act?

Answer 16

Industrial Relations Court
Having to sign up to a government register to be legally recognized

Question 17

What was the benefit for the Party’s signing under the Lib-Lab pact?

Answer 17

They were able to have referendums in their own borders on laws put in place

Question 18

What was the result of Thatcher challenging Heath’s leadership?

Answer 18

She won

Question 19

What did Thatcher put in place in the Conservative Party?

Answer 19

She adapted the ‘new right’ of Heath’s initial policies

Question 20

What seat majority did Labour get in October 1974?

Answer 20

42 seats

Question 21

What did Heath fail to do in the February election that would have given him a majority?

Answer 21

Make an alliance with Labour

Question 22

What was the February 1974 election called?

Answer 22

The “Crisis” election

Question 23

What did Heath misjudge about the public for the 1974 election?

Answer 23

He failed to recognise the mounting inflation affecting everyone in the country

Question 24

How were even shopkeepers negatively affected by inflation?

Answer 24

Prices rose so often they had to buy new price tags of which the prices were also rising