Labour and Conservative Governments 1964-79

Question 1

why did labour win the 1964 election

Answer 1

• Wilsons leadrerhsip
  -conservative downfall
  -revival of the liberal party
  -changed in british attitudes and society

Question 2

How did wilsons leadrerhsip contribute to labour success 1964

Answer 2

• presented labour as dynamic andprogressive
  -Classless and relatable, football fan, economics teacher at oxford
  -promoted economic growth and employment

Question 3

How did the rise of the liberals contribute to labours success in 64

Answer 3

• took votes away from the conservatives which benefitted labour
• Evident in the By-electioin in Orpington in which liberlas won the majority with 7840 over the conservatives

Question 4

How did conservatives weaknesses contribute to labour success in 64

Answer 4

• Scandals. profummo, vassal, phillby andthe argyll divorce case
  -blamed for high unemplyment and inflation
  -thirteen wasetd years

Question 5

How did changes in British society contibute to labour success in 64

Answer 5

-improved living standards and a larger amount of disposable income available
-younger people becamje more independent and vocal
-entertainment-playsand tv- challenged the classs systems
-grammar schools menat that less privelledged people were able to access higher levels of education

Question 6

Why were the results of the 64 election so close?

Answer 6

• gov tax cuts
  -Douglas holmes leaderhsip
  -attitudes towards labour

Question 7

How did tax cuts impact the closeness of the 64 election

Answer 7

crreated a trade defecit of 800 mil but reduced unemployemnt from 900,000 in feb to 300,000 in july

Question 8

How did Holmes leadership impact the closelessness of the 64 election

Answer 8

He peerfomed better than many expected, He was modest and trustworthy which contradicted wilson who was regarded as politically cunning

Question 9

How did attitudes to labour impact the closeness of the 64 election

Answer 9

Internal divisions had not been resolved
people disliked the concept of nationalisation
distrust and links to trade unions
immigration was alarge issue

Question 10

what are some examples of labours social reforms

Answer 10

64- aboliton of detah penalty
-67- contraception and abortion
-68, discrimiantion in housing and employment made illgeal
-68 censorship of theatres removed
-69- 18 to vote
70- equal pay

Question 11

What did the race relations act ential?

Answer 11

stricter laws on immigration
although it wasnt strictly enforced therfore regarded as a failure

Question 12

How did eductaion improve under wilson?

Answer 12

-removal of the split between secondary modern and grammar schools
-comprehensive schools introduced for all abilities
-1963 robinsons report, inceased funding for universities
- introduction of the open university

Question 13

What foreign issues did wilson face?

Answer 13

vietnam war
Rodehsia

Question 14

How did wilson react to the vietnam war?

Answer 14

• demonstrated that he supported the usa in theri stand against communism in the house of commons
  -refused to sned in british troops and hevaliy criticised american bombing of north vietnam

Question 15

How did wilson react to the problems in rhodesia?

Answer 15

• wilson tired economic strategies as sanctions but these were unsuccesfu;
  -tried to impelemnt majority rule
  he however used risky tcatics as he infuraited mebers of the left wing as they wanted troops to stop the rebellion for inependence

Question 16

what economic policies did labour implement

Answer 16

devalunation
deflation
national plan

Question 17

what were heaths aims as PM?

Answer 17

-stregnthen the economy and curb inflation
-transform industrial relations using legislation
-create ‘one nation’,faster economic growth and better social services
-apply to join the EEC

Question 18

What was Heaths economic record

Answer 18

-inflation rate rose from 5% to 10% under heaths
-unemployment was no higher than in 1970
-double the number of days lost to strike were under heath than wilson
-created a balance of payemnts defecit after inheriting a balance of payments surplus

Question 19

Why did inflation rate increase?

Answer 19

• presdient nixon devalued the pound making british exports more expensive
  -value of pound was determined by free markets
  -worldwide increases in raw commodities
  -cut taxes and increase spending

Question 20

When was the industrial relations act created

Answer 20

1971

Question 21

what did the industrial relations act entail?

Answer 21

• legal right to hoin a trade union, challenged closed shop
  -national industrial relations court was established
  -Tu were required to register with NIRC
  -60 day cooling off period
  -better protection over unfair dissmissal

Question 22

Why did the industrial relations act fail?

Answer 22

-was simillair to labours’in place of strife’ methods
-Tu wnated to bring down the conservatives and increased bitterness

Question 23

When did Briatin join the EEC

Answer 23

1st jan 1973

Question 24

What were the negaotiations that enabled britain to join the EEC

Answer 24

• the party had to scarifice any remaining trade deals in the commonwelath
  -accept the EEC policy of subsididing french fsrmers

Question 25

when and why did the miners strike take place

Answer 25

jan-feb 1972, miners demanded 47% pay increase, 280,000 went on strikeand a state of emergencey was declared, the miners were succesfull