Chapter 10- labour governments of Wilson and Callaghan

Question 1

what economic state did Wilson inherit

Answer 1

15% inflation

balance of payments deficit of £3 billion

Question 2

when did Wilson call a new election

Answer 2

October 1974

Question 3

what were the results of the October 1974 election

Answer 3

labour- 39.2%. 319 seats

conservative 35.9%. 277 seats

Question 4

what contract did Wilson negotiate while in opposition

Answer 4

the social contract

Question 5

what did the social contract include

Answer 5

voluntary pay restraint by u unions in return the industrial relations act would be repealed

Question 6

what did the social contract result in

Answer 6

an agreement reached with the NUM which ended the strike

Question 7

what was set up in 1974 under Tony Benn

Answer 7

National enterprise board

Question 8

what caused controversy in 1974

Answer 8

government nationalised the failing car manufacturer British Leyland

went against ignoring lame duck industries

Question 9

what did Callaghan call the the ‘twins of evil’

Answer 9

unemployment and inflation

Question 10

what did Callaghan do to avoid a run of the pound

Answer 10

applied for IMF loan

Question 11

when did the IMF loan come through

Answer 11

december 1976

Question 12

how much was the IMF loan

Answer 12

3 billion

Question 13

what did Britain have to do in response to IMF loan

Answer 13

cut public spending

Question 14

what were the economic effects of IMF loan

Answer 14

economy recoveredw

Question 15

what were the political effects of IMF loan

Answer 15

showed Britain to be in decline

conservatives declared it an international humiliation

Question 16

what helped to I prove economy under callaghan

Answer 16

North Sea oil

Question 17

how many North Sea oil plants were there in production by 1978

Answer 17

9

Question 18

how had number of days lost to industrial action changed by 1978

Answer 18

at the lowest for 10 years

Question 19

how did the labour government strengthen the government after majority in commons disappeared in 1977

Answer 19

lib lab pact

Question 20

what were the terms of the lib lab pact

Answer 20

12 liberal MP’s would vote for the govt in parliament in a vote of no confidence orchestrated by conservatives and labour would go ahead with devolution referendums

Question 21

what were the results of the devolution referendums

Answer 21

scotland- 51.6% for 48.4% against

Wales- 20.3% for 79.7% against

Question 22

why did the majority for devolution in Scotland not count

Answer 22

labour mp inserted clause into devolution pact that at least 40% of electorate must be for for a majority

Question 23

what did the TUC reject in autumn 1978

Answer 23

government proposal for 5% wage increase

Question 24

what did ford lorry drivers achieve in december 1978 after a nine week strike

Answer 24

15% pay increase

Question 25

when did the winter of discontent end

Answer 25

march 1979

Question 26

what was the average pay increase achieved in the winter of discontent

Answer 26

10%

Question 27

which papers were supporting the conservatives in the 1979 election

Answer 27

the times, the sun, the mail and the express

Question 28

what were the 1979 election results

Answer 28

tories- 43.9%. 339 seats

labour- 36.9%. 269 seats

Lib Dems- only 11 seats

Question 29

what made the British government declare a state of emergency in Northern Ireland in may 1974

Answer 29

ulster workers council strike which limited power and telecommunications

Question 30

what was the result of the ulster workers council strike on the sunning dale agreement

Answer 30

made Faulkner resign as head of the power sharing executive and the agreement collapsed

Question 31

what did Wilson announce to replace sunningdale agreement

Answer 31

Northern Irish Constitution Convention an elected body that would chose the future of the government in Northern Ireland

Question 32

what were the results of the elections in July 1975 show

Answer 32

majority for unionists who opposed power sharing

led to the convention being dissolved in 1976

Question 33

what was removed for terrorist prisoners in 1976

Answer 33

special category status

Question 34

what did terrorists being treated as normal prisoners result in

Answer 34

blanket protest by INLA

250 prisoners took part by 1978

Question 35

what did the labour government achieve by 1977

Answer 35

positive balance of trade

Question 36

what did Healey suggest in 1978

Answer 36

renewal of social contract

Question 37

why did both the unions and the Labour Party reject the renewal of the social contract

Answer 37

Healey tried to cap wage demands at 5% despite inflation being at 10%

Question 38

how much of a pay increase did ford drivers achieve in September of 1978

Answer 38

17%

Question 39

how much of a pay increase did lorry drivers achieve in January of 1979

Answer 39

19%