Heaths Government Flashcards
Heaths 1970 election victory
He felt that His victory would enable him to run a strong government committed to modernising Britain. He achieves success in his effort to secure British membership of the EEC.
Heath as leader
When heath became leader
When Edward became Prime Minister, he had a clear and detailed program of policies from the modernisation of Britain.
Heath as a leader
Heaths background
He had been educated at state school and came from a regular family.
Heath as a leader
many of his colleagues regarded him as too honest his own good and not skilful enough for pleasing political allies, he was good at policies but not good at politics.
Heath as leader
Developing policies of Britain
He spent his time developing detailed policies on industrial relations and economic modernisation he knew the issues surrounding the EEC entry and was the chief negotiator from 1961-63
Heath as leader
Economic and industrial problems and leadership challenges
The problems with economy and industry from 1970-74 and the election defeats of 1974, several back bench MPs were determined to force a leadership contest.
Heath as a leader
Margret thatchers challenge to leadership
Margaret Thatcher emerged as the key challenger, and her policies were generally to the right of Heath. She had become sympathetic to monetarist and free market policies put forward by Enoch Powell and Keith Joseph
Heath as leader
Margaret Thatcher defeat 1975
Many supported Thatcher as there was nobody else and she exploited the sense that things were going badly wrong with the party. That should defeated teeth, and Heath’s reputation took a battering from supporters of Thatcherism.
Political and economic policies
The Conservative conference at Selden Park
The conference was held to approve policy program, which would form the basis of a conservatives manifesto at election.
Political, economic policies
Conservative manifestos policies
Tax reform, better law and order, reforms to trade unions, Immigration control, cuts to public spending and the end of public subsidy of lame duck industries.
What is a “lame duck” industry?
An industry that is unable to compete and survive without support from the state
Economic and political policies
Other reforms during Heath leadership
The school leaving age was raised to 16. The local government was re-organised and the British currency went decimal. However, the administration was dominated by the economy and industrial relations.
Political and economic policies
Anthony Barber (chancellor)
He introduced cuts in public spending and introduced tax cuts to try to encourage investment. He called the Barbara boom began with a rapid rise in inflation. however, inflation was not accompanied by economic growth.
Political and economic policies
UnEmployment
Unemployment went up, which was something highly unusual at the same time as inflation,led to stagflation. Employment started to edge towards 1 million and the government felt compelled to take action.
What does stagflation mean?
Invented by economists to describe the unusual combination of inflation and stagnant economic growth (which often produces unemployment) occurring at the same time.
Economic and political policies
Nationalisation of Rolls-Royce
The engineering firm Rolls-Royce was nationalised in 1971, and the government money was also poured in to prevent shipbuilders going bankrupt. This was known as the U-turn.
What was the U-turn?
Reversal of a previous policy, Heath used a U-turn in 1971 to 1972, where he had to retreat from the free enterprise economic principles that His government had tried to follow from 1970.
Political and economic policies
Modernising industries 1973
By 1973 the investment the government had made into modernising industry seems to be working as an employment had fallen back to 500,000 however, this was to change with the oil price crisis of 1973 and energy crisis that followed.
Economic and political policies
Causes of the oil-price crisis and energy crisis
The trigger for the crisis in October 1973, was the one Kippur war in the Middle East. The war prompted OPEC to declare oil embargo and export suddenly stopped the price of oil rocketed to 4 times the usual levels.
What was the organisation of petroleum exporting countries OPEC
Let’s buy Saudia Arabia, which aim to protect the interest of its members. OPEC agreed to fix levels of production to prevent prices from falling too low.
Economic and political policies
Effect of the oil and energy crisis
Led to the National union of minors to demand a huge new pay rise in November 1973, and this led to dramatic struggles between the national union of minors and the government
Industrial relations and the miners strike
Industrial disputes
From the start of Heath premiership, there were industrial disputes to deal with docker strikes, large pay settlements for dustman. A postal workers strike and “go slow” by power workers which led to power cuts.
Industrial relations, the miners strikes
Response to the problems in industrial relations
The government brought in the industrial relations act, which was similar to Barbara Castle white paper, in place of strife proposals. He’s also abolished the national board for prices and incomes.
Industrial relations, and the minor strikes
Industrial relations act
Set up an industrial relations court, and provided for strike ballots, and a colon off period before official strikes could begin. The policy didn’t work as expected as trade unions, and the federal British industry were opposed to it.
Industrial relations, minors strike
Response to the industrial relations act
So it major strikes in 1972 by minus ambulance, drivers, firefighters, civil servants and power workers. 1972 saw the highest number of days lost in strikes since the general strike of 1926.
The minor strike of 1972 on the 9th of January
It was at a time of past winter, and virtually stops the movement of coal around the country. By the 9th of February, the government declared a state of Emergency as schools were closed and 1.2 million workers were laid off.
Industrial relations and minor strike
Response to the minors, strike of, 1972
Heath returned to the policy of trying to manage wage demands with the passing of the industry act of 1972, which aim to involve the government, the UTC and the CBI in agreeing wages, prices, investments and benefits.
What was the CBI and the TUC?
The CBI is the confederation of the British industry.
The TUC is the trade union Congress
Industrial relations and the minor strike
Criticism to the industry act of, 1972
The policy was heavily criticised by some of the right of the Conservative party, such as Enoch Powell, and there were further industrial disputes with firefighters and power workers in November 1973.
Industrial relations and the minor strike
1973 oil crisis
In November 1973, the oil crisis led to another, increased the wage demand from the minors, which was beyond the limits. The government wanted to impose to hold down inflation, the minors introduced an overtime ban to strengthen their demands.
Industrial relations and minus strike
Three day week
To avoid any more strikes due to the 1973 oil crisis. Heath announced a three day week and moved Willy white law from the Northern Ireland office to be the minister of employment as he was considered as a skilled negotiator.
Industrial relations and minor strike
Response to the three day week
Mine refused to accept the payoff and the government refused to treat the minors as a special Kace in 1974, the National union miners called a national strike.
Industrial relations and minor strike
General election of, 1974
He’s called a general election, intending the central issue of the election to be who govern Britain, the opinion polls favoured Conservatives. However, labour one five more seats and the minor strike had brought down the government.
