Heath's Government

Question 1

Give 3 reasons why the conservatives lost the 1974 election.

Answer 1

Selsdom manifesto - Heaths U turn U turn

Enoch Powel criticised his own Conservative party
Urged voters to vote labour

Wilson seen as a man of the people

Question 2

What was the selsdom manifesto?

Answer 2

Conservatives met in selsdom park and agreed to a number of proposals
- agreed not to grant subsidies to ‘lame duck industries ‘

Question 3

What was Heath’s U turn?

Answer 3

This was when he nationalised the engineering firm, rolls Royce
As part of the selsdom manifesto he and his party agreed not grant subsidies to lame duck industries
Heath contradicted his own parties manifesto when he nationalised rolls Royce - a lame duck industry

Question 4

What was a ‘lame duck industry’?

Answer 4

One that is unable to survive and compete without state support

Question 5

How could it be argued Heath was somewhat lucky regarding the EEC?

Answer 5

When Britain’s entry into the EEC was held to vote in the commons 69 rebel labour MPs voted to yes - this enabled Heath to enter Britain into the EEC
- massively divided the Labour Party - Wilson forced to promise a referendum when labour are elected

Question 6

In 1970 a key member of Heath’s government died. Who was this?
Why was it a problem?

Answer 6

Iain McLeod

Heath hoped that because of his expertise he would fill the role of chancellor of the exchequer, his sudden death left a hole Heath’s government as he lost a vital asset

Question 7

What is stagflation?

What was Heath now forced to do?

Answer 7

Stagflation: the unlikely event of high inflation and unemployment at the same time

Heath was forced to undermine the selsdom manifesto and pour more money into failing businesses to save jobs

Question 8

When was the industrial relations act passed?

How did trade unions respond?

Answer 8

1971

Strikes in 1972

Question 9

Comment on employment rates under Heath

Answer 9

More than 1 million were unemployed- the highest number since the 1930s

Question 10

Give 3 ways in which the conservatives position improved

Answer 10

Unemployment dropped to 500,000

Conservative popularity on the rise - almost level with labour in opinion polls

The number of working days lost to strikes were cut in half compared to 1972