Britain, 1951 - 1997

Question 1

What Labour weaknesses allowed the Conservatives to win the election of 1951?

Answer 1

• The party was associated with a policy of Austerity as it was forced to cut back on imported goods to encourage exports and maintain high taxation.
• The Korean war of 1950 meant that their defence spending had risen when it should have been spent at home
• Party divisions had arisen over the National Health Service and introduction of charges for spectacles, prescriptions and dental care.

Question 2

What Conservative strengths allowed the Conservatives to win the election of 1951?

Answer 2

• Compared with 1945, the party was better organised and financed so could campaign more strongly
• The party was united behind opposition to Labour nationalising iron and steel, unlike Labour, which was divided.
• Their promise to build 300,000 houses a year was popular as Labour had not built enough in the post-war environment.
• They promised an end to rationing whilst keeping the popular welfare policies
• Churchill remained a well-respected figure

Question 3

Other than Conservative strengths and Labour weaknesses, which factors affected the outcome of the 1951 election?

Answer 3

• The Liberal party had declined, going from 2.6 million in 1945 to 750,000 in 1951.
• Changes to constituency boundaries meant Labour marginal areas went to the Conservatives
• The USSR had also become an enemy of the UK due to the Cold War so public opinion was against the poltical left.

Question 4

What social changes were made by the Conservatives in the period 1951 - 64?

Answer 4

• The standard of living had increased significantly with unemployment relatively low and the level of real wages increasing. Many people were able to afford homes and social stability increased.
• 6,000 more schools were built, buildling off the Butler Act of 1944 which saw the introduction of Grammar schools which allowed greater social mobility.
• The growth of credit and affluence meant more people could afford things so the economy became heavily consumer based.
• New groups of young people had arisen which created a distinct generational gap which was partially a reason for the Conservatives seeming outdated by 1964.

Question 5

What were the Conservative Economic policies in the period 1951 - 64?

Answer 5

• ‘Stop-go’ Butler and his successors were accused of this policy which involved reducing taxation and lower interest rates when the economy needed a boost or doing the opposite to counter inflation.
• Accepting the nationalisation of some industries
• There should not be budget cuts in welfare and health spending
• Maintaining full employment is important

Question 6

What were the successes of the Conservative Economic policies in the period 1951 - 64?

Answer 6

• There was a high level of employment for most of the period
• Th ecnomy supported a growth in welfare spending and house buildling
• Some industries such as aircraft manufacture, cars and chemicals expanded
• There was more credit available to help people achieve a higher standard of living
• There was some growth in infrastructure as new roads were built and the motorway system began.

Question 7

What were the failures of the Conservative Economic policies in the period 1951 - 64?

Answer 7

• Britain’s rate of ecnomic growth lagged behind that of other countires in Europe
• Its share of world trade fell. Britain’s export markets lagged behind domestic manufacture.
• A lot of money went into defence expenditure (10%) of the GDP rather than into economic improvement.
• Britain did not join the EEC and did not get the benefits of it
• Britain suffered due to persistent price rises and lack of modernisation
• From 1961, the economy showed signs of weakness wiht a rise in unemployment to 800,000 in 1963.

Question 8

What was Churchill like as a prime minister in the period 1951 - 55?

Answer 8

• Churchill had a great reputation as a wartime leader and was respected however, his interest in domestic affairs was less than geopolitical ones.
• During the period 1951-55 he lacked energy and suffered a stroke in 1953 without the public knowing, R.A Butler ran the country behind the scenes

Question 9

What was Eden like as a prime minister in the period 1955 - 57?

Answer 9

• He was a charming man and highly experienced but his tenure as Prime Minister was cut short by his involvement in the Suez Crisis 1956. British public opinion and International humilation forced him to resign and withdraw his forces

Question 10

What was Macmillan like as a prime minister in the period 1957 - 63?

Answer 10

• He was warm and witty with a distinctive style, his calm leadership making him popular at home and abroad. Macmillan, with Butler as home secretary, implemented new social policies and was responsible for the ‘Never had it so good’ speech.
• He had restored Britain’s international standing and tried to build bridges with the USSR.

Question 11

What was Douglas-Home like as a prime minister in the period 1963 - 64?

Answer 11

• He was satirised for seeming outdated and old-fashioned, not accomplishing much before being voted out of office due to the Labour victory in the 1964 election.

Question 12

Why was Labour disunited in the period 1951 - 1964?

Answer 12

• Broad Principles - Hugh Gaitskell wanted to modernise the party, which was still committed to a socialist programme. There were significant numbers of Left-wing elements in the party.
• Nationalisation of Industry - Leftists like Bevan wanted a large amount of nationalisation of of Industry whilst others saw this as outdated.
• Nuclear Disarmament - Many in Labour disliked Britain having nuclear weapons whilst others thought that Britain could not be defenceless.
• Foreign Policy - Bevan and the left of the party disapproved of Britain’s policy towards West Germany, which had been allowed to rearm and join NATO. This was rejected by the leadership and Bevan was expelled in 1955.

Question 13

What were the reasons for the Conservatives losing the election of 1964?

Answer 13

• The loss of popularity by the Conservatives with the claim of ‘13 wasted years’
• The appeal of Labour; not stressing nationalisation of industry and a more modern, scientific Britain
• People, mainly younger people, wanted a change from the Conservatives
• Partial revitalisation of the Liberals took votes away from the Conservatives
• The growth of political satire seemed to affect the Conservative image more than Labour

Question 14

What majority did Wilson have in 1964?

Answer 14

In 1964, Labour had a majority of 4 MPs

Question 15

What majority did Wilson have in 1966?

Answer 15

In 1966, Labour had a 100 more seats than the Conservatives

Question 16

What problems did Wilson face in 1964?

Answer 16

• Stagflation characterised the economy
• Britain’s growth was very slow compared to other developed industrial countires
• Defence costs were very high
• Societal changes had not been reflected in the existing laws and the education system was not up to scratch.

Question 17

What social reforms did Wilson achieve and who put them through? (1964-70) [6]

Answer 17

Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary, undertook a policy of modernisation

• Race relations laws made discrimnation illegal
• The voting age was lowered from 21 to 18
• Capital punishment was ended
• The equal pay law meant men and women had to receive the same pay for the same work
• Abortion was legalised and more contraception available
• Homosexual acts between consenting adults in private were legalised

Question 18

What education reforms did Wilson achieve? (1964-70)

Answer 18

• The Comprehensive system was expanded.
• The Open University was established
• Number of universities increased

Question 19

What economic policy did Wilson enforce? (1964-70)

Answer 19

• The Balance of payment deficits was improving by 1969
• The value of sterlin had been maintained to the benefit of Britain’s very important financial sector
• Encouraged industrial developments in South Wales and Merseyside
• Motorways were built in the North

Question 20

What economy failures did Wilson have? (1964-70)

Answer 20

• The reintroduction of free prescription and raising school leaving age couldn’t be enforced due to budget restrictions.
• Unemployment was at a post-war high of 2.5 million.
• Investment did not lead to much-needed modernisation and attempts at economic planning in the National Plan and new Department of Economic affairs did little.

Question 21

What Trade Union failures did Wilson have? (1964-70)

Answer 21

• ‘In Place of Strife’ Barbara Castle’s plan was unpopular among the Labour left, the trade unions and some cabinet ministers that it was abandoned.
• Strikes caused problems
• Economic growth was hampered by high costs brought about by some union practices which encouraged overmanning in manufacturing industry.

Question 22

How many more seats did the Conservatives win compared to Labour in 1970?

Answer 22

The Conservatives won 43 more seats than Labour in the 1970 election

Question 23

What Labour divisions caused the loss in the 1970 election? [4]

Answer 23

• The need for cuts in spending felt like a betrayal to many Labour supporters
• Many in the left disliked the diplomatic support given by Wilson to the US in Vietnam
• The Left accused the leaders of maintaining the needs of the financial sector at the expense of the the ordinary people and of manufacturing
• The Trade unions disliked the proposals to restrict union power

Question 24

What Labour economic problems caused the loss of Labour in the 1970 election?

Answer 24

• Economic planning efforts had not yielded much and unemplyment was higher in 1970 than it had been when Labour took office
• The government had not controlled inflation and retail prices had risen by 33 per cent
• There had been a fall in employment in mining and manufacturing
• The devaluation of the pound had caused higher prices for imported goods

Question 25

What appeal of the Conservatives caused the loss of Labour in the 1970 election?

Answer 25

• Heath had very clear policies and was passionate about joining the EEC; appealing to the middle classes
• Heath wanted modernisation when Wilson wanted to stick to older, less efficient industries
• Heath also made it clear that he wanted to tackle the power of the trade unions.

Question 26

What were the problems Edward Heath faced? (1970-1973)

Answer 26

• Inflation proved difficult to control. War in the Middle East in 1973 raised prices.
• In 1971, America changed its policy towards exchange rates and let the dollar fall in value making British expoets more expensive.
• The government felt obliged to subsidise some failing industries to protect jobs
• Britian entered the EEC but had to make an unfavourable deal
• The number of working days lost in strikes increased from 10.9 million in 1970 to 23 million in 1972

Question 27

Why was industrial relations policy important for Edward Heath? (1970-83)

Answer 27

• If costs were not kept competitive, Britain would not benefit from the opportunities opened by entry to the EEC
• It was important to prevent wage-led inflation
• Heath and the Conservatives wanted to succeed where Labour and ‘In Place of Strife’ had failed

Question 28

What was the Conservative policy towards industrial relations? (1970-83)

Answer 28

• In 1971, the Conservative government introduced the Industrial Relations Act ending the so-called closed shop and gave the Government the right to insist on a 60-day cooling off period before a strike was called and to insist that all trade unionists were balloted about a potential strike.
• A new Industrial Relations Commission was created to help to negotiate to avoid strikes.

Question 29

What were the problems in the Coal industry for Edward Heath? (1970-83)

Answer 29

• In January 1972, 280,000 coal miners went on strike threatening heating and power supplies for industry. They asked for a 47% pay rise and were eventually awarded a pay rise higher than the inflation rate.
• It weakened any government strategy to reduce inflation
• It showed the power of the miners and the effectiveness of their methods
• It showed how alarmed the government was about threatening picketing action and the use of ‘flying pickets’
• Many Conservatives saw the rule of law being challenged
• Other workers followed the miners in making wage claims

Question 30

What was the Clash of 1973?

Answer 30

• By November, the oil crisis led to much higher prices rises. The miners began an overtime ban.

Question 31

How did Heath respond to the Clash of 1973?

Answer 31

• Industry and businesses could have access to electricity for only three days a week
• To cut down on petrol, there was a 50 mph limit for all cars
• TV was ordered to stop broadcasting at 10:30 to dave electricity.

Question 32

Why did Labour win in February 1974?

Answer 32

• It was primarily due to the failures of the Conservative party
• Heath seemed to have lose control of the country and many thought the ‘Three-Day week’ was over-dramatic
• Some former Conservative voters disliked the terms of entry into Europe which involved losing the cheap food from the Commonwealth and subsidising Europe’s farmer through the unpopular Common Agricultural Policy

Question 33

What were the problems of the Labour government 1974-79?

Answer 33

• Divisions in the Labour party created problems as Michael Foot and Tony Benn joined the Cabinet and clashed with Labour’s more moderate leaders.
• The Labour party was also divided over entry to the EEC and Wilson had to hold a referendum in 1975.
• Labout found it difficult to deal with the Trade Unions because of their reliance upon them for funding and historic links.
• Inflation continued to rise, reaching an average of 25% per year, partly due to the war between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
• The economy also appeared to be stagnating with low growth rates, low productivity and low investment.

Question 34

What was the ‘winter of discontent’ and when did it happen?

Answer 34

• 1978-79
• As inflation rose and wages were frozen, the trade unions once again pressed for big wage increases
• Strikes in the winter of 1978-79 hit key public services such as rubbish collection
• The press claimed that there was a severe crisis
• The Government failed to keep its promises to begin devolution for Sctoland and Wales, and the Scottish and Welsh nationalist MPs voted against them and brought the Government down in March 1979.

Question 35

Did Labour deserve to lose the election of 1979?

Answer 35

• Inflation and economic stagnation were inherited and faced by other countries
• The press sensationalised the industrial disputes and strikes, and Labout had been able to co-operate with the unions until the Social Contract broke down under pressure from rising prices
• Labour was, however, deeply divided and did not offer a solution to increasing strikes
• There were no strategies for dealing with longer-term problems in the economy..

Question 36

Why did Thatcher win the election of 1979?

Answer 36

• The electoral system favoured the conservatives
• Marginal seats were key and Thatcher appealed to marginal voters by opposing socialism and the trade unions
• The Liberals were damaged by their choice to support Labour in the Winter of Discontent

Question 37

Describe the election of 1983?

Answer 37

• The Conservatives got less votes in 1983 but the Labour vote fell from 11.5 million to 8.5 million, giving Thatcher a majority.
• The victory in the Falklands war and the privatisation policies taking effect, increasing public shareholding.
• The Labour Party had split meaning that the anti-conservative parties couldn’t garner enough votes

Question 38

Describe the election of 1987

Answer 38

• The conservatives increased their popular vote but lost 21 seats.
• Thatcher remained charismatic and her personal courage during the assassination attempt

Question 39

What were Thatcher’s views on the economy? [4]

Answer 39

1. Inflation had to be tackled; Unemployment was favourable to inflation
2. There was a lack of investment, modernisation and economic stagnation
3. There were many costly and unprofitable publicly owned industries and services
4. There was a lack of incentive to modernise and increase productivity

Question 40

Describe some of Thatcher’s economic policies. [7]

Answer 40

1. Privatisation began in October 1979 with the sale of British petroleum and continued through the 1980s
2. Government no longer supported failing industries and they were allowed to stop production even though this resulted in unemployment
3. The budgets of 1980 and 1981 aimed to reduce money in circulation by reducing government spending and raising indirect taxation
4. The governments policies increased confidence abroad and the value of the pound rose
5. Direct taxes on businesses were reduced to free up money for investment
6. Interest rates remained high through the 1980s
7. The financial services act of 1986 deregulated dealing in stocks and shares and opened up share trading

Question 41

Describe the impact of Thatcher’s economic policies

Answer 41

• Price rise fell 18% in 1980 to 4.5% in 1983 and there was a further fall in 1985-86.
• There was a growth in financial services due to changes in taxation, a stronger pound and financial deregulation.
• Unemployment rose sharply in the early 1980s, initially 1.5 million was seen as high but by 1983 had reached 3 million. It was still over 2 million by 1990
• foreign investment increased such as Japanese car manufacturer, Nissan, establishing a plant in the North East

Question 42

What was Thatcher’s social policy towards the NHS?

Answer 42

A business model was applied to public health services:

• Hospitals became self-governing trusts and had to look after their own budgets
• GPs were given a competitive choice in which NHS services to use
• GPs were also responsible for managing their own budgets

Question 43

What was Thatcher’s social policy in regards to education?

Answer 43

• Moves were made to make education more in line with business
• State schools were allowed to opt out of local authority control and control their own budgets
• Universities were expected to be more self-funding and their budgets were cut
• GCSEs were introduced to make sure everyone have a vocational knowledge

Question 44

What were some examples of unrest under thatcher?

Answer 44

• In terms of occupation and wealth, the balance shifted considerably in the 1980s away from the traditional mining and industry towards finances, services consumer goods, entertainment and manufacture and use of new technology.
• Poverty was more apparent in the 1980s, with ‘cardboard cities’ and people sleeping rough
• Urban centres in manufacturing areas became neglected and run down, while London and the South East became more prosperous.
• There was rioting in Brixton, Liverpool and half a dozen other urban centres in the Spring and summer of 1981
• the miners strike of 1984-85 saw outbreaks of violence and battles between strikers and police
• In 1989, there was considerable unrest and demonstrations against poll tax

However the level of political and social unrest throughout the period was relatively low. The Falklands war of 1982 distracted opposition to social policies, the violence of the miners worried more moderate opponents, the government ensured that police forces were well paid and strong enough.

Question 45

What was the impact of a woman prime minister?

Answer 45

• She had the support o