Heath’s Conservative Government (1970-1974) Flashcards
When did Britain join the EEC and how?
1st January 1973
Gained the approval of new French President Pompidou
How did the budget of 1971 cut government spending to stimulate the economy?
Ended free school milk scheme (Thatcher was Education Secretary at the time, hence her nickname “Thatcher the milk snatcher”)
How did Nixon’s devaluation of the US $ have an effect on British exports?
Export rate fell as British goods became more expensive to the US
What did the 1971 Industrial Relations Act do?
• Industrial Relations Court set up
• Workers had the legal right to join a TU
• Set up a pre strike ballot
• 60 day cooling off period to negotiate
How did the Industrial Relations Act fail?
• Measures were very similar to “in place of strife” - unpopular amongst unions
• Industrial Relations Court relied on the co-operation of unions, could only operate if unions agreed to register (most unions chose not to)
How much did days lost to strikes increase from 1970-1972?
1.5 million to 10.5 million
How did inflation escalate in 1972?
Unions demanded higher wages to counteract higher inflation however this only caused businesses to put up prices more to counter act the increase in wages which only increased inflation more
How much of a pay increase were the NUM awarded in January 1972?
8%
However they demanded a 14% increase and called a strike
What was a common method used during the 1972 strike?
“Flying pickets”
Strikers would descend on a chosen mine in vehicles to swamp the police
Created a sign of unity and increased violence
What was a strike that showed violence?
Saltley Coke Depot strike in Birmingham
Police ended up withdrawing, demonstrating the power of organised labour
How did the 1972 strike end?
Coal stocks at power stations run down
Government agreed to give miners a pay rise that was double the rate of inflation to end the strike
How much had the price of oil multiplied in 1973 and why?
Due to the Arab Israeli war, the price of oil multiplied by 5 from Jan 1972 to Jan 1974
When the NUM called for a strike again in 1973, how did Heath respond?
Called a “state of emergency”
- 3 day working week to reduce the spending of coal
- 50 mph speed limit
- TV shut off at 10:30pm
Called an election in 1974
