How Successful Was Edward Heath As Prime Minister Flashcards
What was Heath’s economic goals as prime minister?
Strengthen the economy and curb inflation
Legislate to transform industrial relations
Create ‘one nation’, promising regional development, faster economic growth, better social services and the maintenance of full employment
Apply to join the EEC
What was the inflation rate in 1970 and 1974?
1970: 5%
1974: 10%
What was the balance of the books Heath left in 1974 considering he inherited a palace of payments surplus?
A substantial deficit
When did Britain become a full member of the EEC?
1 January 1973, though 39 Conservative MPs voted against entry, 69 Labour MPs broke party lines and voted in favour of joining
What were the terms Britain had to accept when doing the EEC in 1973?
Sacrifice any remaining preferential trade deals with the Commonwealth
Accept the EEC’s policy of heavily subsiding French farmers
What was the main provisions in the Industrial Relations Act, August 1971?
Workers would have the legal right to join or not a trade union, challenging the legating of the closed shop
The National Industrial Relations Court (NIRC) and the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) were established
Trade unions would have to register with the NIRC and IRC
Members of register unions would enjoy better protection against unfair dismissals
Unions which failed to register would be liable for claims for damages
The Act gave the government powers to order a pre-strike ballot and a cooling-off period of up to 60 days
How many days were lost to strike in the early 1970s?
1970: 10,985,000
1971: 13,551,000
1972: 23,909,000
1973: 7,197,000
1974: 14,750,000
What had Nixon ended in 1971?
The system of fixed exchange rates
What action in the 1972 budget stimulated a demand for goods and searches but also pushed up prices?
Cutting taxes and increasing public spending
Why was the mines strike in January to February 1972 successful?
Miners were skilfully organised, especially by Yorkshire miners leader Arthur Scargill, who co-ordinated flying-pickets
Violent incidents, like at Saltley coke depot in Birmingham, hurt the supply of fuel from leaving the depot
The government was poorly organised
What did Heath famously do in 1972?
A u-turn on policies, nationalising the aircraft division of Rolls-Royce in January 1971, In February 1972 the government granted £25 million to Upper Clyde Shipbuilder to safeguard its 3000 jobs
What did Heath announce on the 13 December 1973?
A State of Emergency and the introduction of a three-day working week to take effect from 31 December 1973
What was some of the new regulations due to the three-day week?
Electricity would be provided to industry and businesses only on 3 specified days per week
To save petrol a 50 mph speed limit was introduced on all roads
TV was required to close down at 10.30pm each evening
Number of seats won in the February 1974 election?
Conservative: 297
Labour: 301
