Labour 1964-1970 Flashcards
What was the increase in the Liberal party’s vote share in 1964
+5.3% (but only 3 seats)
What are the reasons for the result of the 1964 election
Electoral system (turn out)
Liberal popularity
Scandals - Profumo, Vassall inquiry, Kim Philby, Argyll divorce
Poor economy (lagging behind)
Tory fatigue
Home’s unpopularity (old boy network)
Bevanite split no more, Gaitskell gone and Wilson as a compromise
What are the reasons for the result of the 1966 election
Wilson’s popularity
Heath came across as stiff
Labour’s technological modernisation
Which two economic solutions did Wilson not want to use
Deflation & Devaluation
Who were Wilson’s Chancellors (64-70)
James Callaghan (64-67)
Roy Jenkins (67-70)
Why was devaluation controversial
It made the UK look weak
Force a scale back of international activities
Devaluation had already occurred under Attlee and Labour didn’t want a reputation
What economic department did Wilson create within days of entering office, and what was it’s job
Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) - Put an end to Stop-Go and long term economic planning
Why did Wilson apply to the EEC (2nd application) in 1967
Appease pro-Europe party members
When was the devaluation of the pound
18 November 1967
What was inflation in 1970
12%
When did Jenkins achieve a BoP surplus
1969
What role was Frank Cousins given in government
Minister of technology
Who went on strike 1966-67
Seamen and dockers
What are Wildcat Strikes
Sudden, unoffical, local strikes called without national union input
Who was Wilson’s employment minister
Barbara Castle
What was Edward Heath’s industrial policy whilst in opposition
‘Fair Deal at Work’
What was In Place of Strife (1969)
Policy to limit Trade Unions
1) 28 day cooling off period
2) Strike ballots
3) Industrial relations court can prosecute rule breakers
Who rebelled against In Place of Strife forcing it to be thrown out
Jack Jones (TGWU leader)
James Callaghan
50 Labour MPs
When did the Trade Union Council negotiate a compromise with the government
June 1969
Why did Cousins resign from the cabinet
In protest over the Prices and Incomes act 1966
Who was Wilson paranoid of within his party
George Brown - rival in 1963 leadership election
Callaghan and Jenkins
What are the examples of the White Heat of Technology
Post Office Tower
Concorde
Nuclear Energy
The Pill
When was the voting age lowered to 18
1968
What was the increase in social security funding under Labour (%)
14.3%
What was the increase in education funding under Labour (%)
12.7%
What was the Prices and Incomes Board
Board to plan rises in prices and wages in order to prevent inflation
Who was the education minister inchareg of reforming the system
Anthony Crosland
What was the name of the woman given the death penalty in 1955 for murdering her abusive husband
Ruth Ellis
When was the death penalty abolished
1969, following suspension since 1965
What was the Divorce Reform Act 1969
“no fault” divorce, both parties had to live apart for 2 years or one party for 5 for it to be allowed
How much did divorce increase in 1969
5 times
When was the abortion act
1967
How much did abortion increase 1968-75
4 times
Who supported and who was against abortion reform
David Steel, abortion law reform association
The society for the protection of the unborn child
What did the 1967 Sexual offences act allow for
Homosexual activity was allowed in private for consenting over 21’s
When was the National Viewers and Listeners association started
1965
What was the Dangerous Drug Act 1967
Banned the possession of cannabis
What was the main 60s youth group
Hippies - Anti-Vietnam
What was the first race relations act - 1965
Forbade public discrimination
But housing and employment discrimination weren’t included
Formed the Race Relations Board to take and rule on complaints
What percentage of people in North London in 1965 disapproved of mixed race marriages
90%
When did Enoch Powell deliver his Rivers of Blood speech
April 1968
What happened to Enoch Powell as a result of Rivers of Blood
Sacked from the shadow cabinet
What happened to Enoch Powell as a result of Rivers of Blood
Sacked from the shadow cabinet
What percentage of the population supported Powell
75%
What was the second race relations act - 1968
Banned discrimination in housing and employment, race relations board made more powerful
But loopholes remained
When was the first Notting Hill carnival
1964
When were the 3 sterling crisis’
1st 1965
2nd 1966 - caused by seamen strike
3rd 1967 - caused by 6 day war
How much was the pound devaluated by
14%
What caused the Kenya-Asian immigrant crisis
New Kenya government demanded all Kenyan Asians to give up British citizenship or to leave the country
What immigration reform did James Callaghan push through in February 1968
Repealed guaranteed Kenyan Asian right to British citizenship and entry
What was Wilson’s stance on the Vietnam War
He supported it an wanted to get the UK involved but didn’t as he knew he would face public backlash
How did Wilson compromise over Vietnam
Didn’t go in but didn’t condemn Johnson
Moral support but no military support
Why did the Euro-sceptics not oppose Wilson’s application
They saw it as having no chance of succeeding
What was the main reason for decolonisation in the 1960s
Cutting defence spending, saving money post devaluation
When did Ian Smith declare Unilateral Declaration for Southern Rhodesia
1965
