Labour divisions

Question 1

What divisions were present in Wilson’s gov?

Answer 1

• still personal rivalries between Wilson and most of his cabinet colleagues - Wilson believed he faced leadership challenge from Brown, Callaghan or Jenkins
• Brown resentful he lost the leadership
• Suspicious of Jenkins, didn’t fully support his liberal reforms

Question 2

What did Jenkins do that Wilson interpreted as a plot against him?

Answer 2

When the seaman’s strike of 1966 caused a sterling crisis Jenkins tried to get the cabinet to support devaluation
- highlighted Wilson’s paranoia