Labour and Conservative Governments, 1964-79, dates and stats Flashcards
Social Reforms - Roy Jenkins - under Wilson.
-Race Relations 1965.
-Voting age from 21 to 18
-Equal Pay law 1970.
-Abortion legalised - 1967.
-Sexual Offences act 1967 - homosexuality legalised.
Who was Wilsons Home secretary 1964-70?
Roy Jenkins
When was the Robbins Report on higher education?
1963
Unemployment in 1967?
2.5 million - post war high.
When was Britain forced to devalue the pound?
1967 - lack of overseas confidence in the economy.
Wilson National Plan?
1965 - created - creates Dept of Economic Affairs (DEA) -Target 3.8% growth over 6 years - failed - undermined by deflation.
Proposal for long-term reform of the unions - by Wilson Government 64-70?
1967 – Barbara Castles ‘In Place of Strife’
Seamen’s strike?
1966
Opinion poll before 1970 election?
51% approval for Wilson.
Only 28% for Heath.
Barbara Castle - Disillusionment of the Labour Supporters - quote
-“under current of detachment among our own activists and party audiences.”
Labour Party membership:
1964
1970
830,000 in 1964
680,000 in 1970.
1964 Retail Price Index (measure of inflation) had risen by…
33% - Heath relentlessly attack on economic record of Lab.
Daily mail on reason for Conservative win 1970?
Heath’s ‘Guts and Leadership’
Who gave ‘Rivers of Blood Speech’
-Enoch Powel - 1968.
-speech predicting race riots - popular with white working class.
-Heath expelled him from cabinet.
Egypt and Syria start war with Israel?
1973 - caused oil crisis due to oil being with held by middl east - believed Western world supported Israel.
America changes policy of fixed exchange rate?
1971 - made British exports in America more expensive.
of working days lost in strikes increased:
1970
1972
1970 – 10.6 million.
1972 – 23 million.
United Kingdom’s membership of the EEC?
Jan 1973
Industrial Relation Act - Heath?
1971
established:
Industrial Relations Commission and National Industrial Relations Court - negotiate and avoid strikes.
Britain - unfavourable terms when joining EEC?
Sacrifice any remaining preferential trade deal with the Commonwealth.
Accept the EEC’s policy of heavily subsiding French farmers.
Problems with Coal Industry - Heaths government:
When?
How many strikers?
Pay rise miners were asking for?
1972 – 280,000 coal miners went on strike.
47% pay rise.
Government surrendered - pay rise higher than the inflation rate.
How much of Britain’s energy needs depended on oil - 1973 oil crisis?
50%
Heaths Emergency powers to avoid further strikes or give in to further pay rise during oil crisis 1973?
Industry and businesses – only had electricity 3 days a week.
Cut down on petrol – cars no faster than 50 mph.
TV - stop broadcasting at 10.30.
Wilson - national referendum on whether to stay or leave EEC?
5 June 1975. - Result 2:1 vote in favor of continued membership.
managed to negotiate a reduction in Britain’s contribution to the EEC budget.
Inflation in 1975?
30%
Unemployment in 74 to and 2 years later.
542,000 in 74
to over 1.3 mil 2 years later.
Wilson resigns?
March 76 - lack of confidence in the pound - value fell.
IMF loan?
Gov spending cut as a result?
1976 - Healy asked International Monetary Fund for loan of 3600million dollars - to support pound.
-GOV spending cut by 2 billion.
Government control of wage rise to prevent inflation in ‘78?
-wage rises of no more than 5%.
-Disliked by Unions - seen as abandonment of social contract.
When was the winter of discontent?
1978-79 - public services such as dustmen and gravediggers demanding 40% pay rise.
