chapter 9 Flashcards
(46 cards)
what was a major success of heath’s leadership?
was able to achieve EEC membership, which his predessecors had not
what was heath’s background and how did it impact his image?
-the first tory leader to be educated through state schools
-more relatable
-very honest, so good at policies but not politics
what about heath’s career gave him experience for the EEC application?
-was chief negotiator 1961-63
in which year did thatcher replace heath as tory leader?
1975
what were key areas of tory campaign pre 1970 election?
-trade union reforms
-tax teforms
-immigration controls
-cuts to public spending
-end public subsidy of ‘lame duck’/failing industries
what were some reforms during heath’s premiership?
-leaving age of school raised to 16
-british currency went decimal
what was a negative effect of the cuts in tax and public spending?
although they were designed to create investment and a growing economy, they caused a rise in inflation
what was the name of the rapid rise of inflation?
barber boom
chancellor was named anthony barber
what is stagflation?
the inflation was not followed by economic growth, and unemployment went up
what caused heath’s famous U-turn?
-unemployment began approaching 1 mil
-rolls royce is nationalised 1971
-gov money given to stop upper clyde shipbuilders going bankrupt
what marked the u-turn
retreat from the free-enterprise economic principles.
why were these economic policies seen as a u-turn?
policies at the beginning were to let dying industries die
what were the effects of the u-turn?
by 1973 unemployment had fallen back to 500,000
what began the oct 1973 oil crisis?
yom kippur war in the middle east
OPEC calls an oil embargo, and exports stop
what is the OPEC?
organisation of petroleum exporting countries
what happened to the oil prices after the oil embargo was called?
prices became four times the usual levels & very long queues outside petrol stations
why did the NUM demand a pay rise in nov 1973?
due to unaffordable petrol prices
what is the NUM?
national union of miners
what were major industrial disputes during heath’s premiership?
-dockers strike
-large pay settlement for dustmen
-postal workers strike
-‘go slow’ by power workers, causing power cuts
how did the government react to the industrial disputes?
-industrial relations act 1971
-inspired by barbara castle’s white paper, ‘in place of strife’
-publishes the national board for prices and incomes
what did the industrial relations act create?
-strike ballots
-‘cooling off period’ before strikes may happen
but TUC and CBI were against it
what were the major strikes in 1972?
miners, ambulance drivers, firefighters, power workers & hospital staff
what was the highest number of days lost in strikes?
24,000,000 in 1972
highest since general strikes 1926
when did the miners strikes begin?
jan 1972
particularly harsh due to the weather
