Labour Governments of Wilson & Callaghan

Question 1

What were the economic issues in 1974?

Answer 1

• inflation was 15%
• balance of payments was £3 billion

Question 2

What were the two main inherited problems for the 1974 labour government?

Answer 2

• trade unions
• Northern Ireland

Question 3

What was the issues with the labour government in 1974?

Answer 3

• less unified
• Wilson was old and less energetic
• minority government

Question 4

What are the issues with the minority government?

Answer 4

they had to rely on other parties in order to pass any legislation

Question 5

What are some of the reasons that the Conservatives lost the October 1974 election?

Answer 5

• miners strikes
• unemployment
• issues with Ireland
• increase in representation for other parties

Question 6

How long did Wilson lead for?

Answer 6

1974 - 76

Question 7

What did Wilson wish to do in regards to industrial relations?

Answer 7

Wilson wanted to act quickly in order to demonstrate the Labour being better equipped than the Conservatives to work with trade unions

Question 8

What did Wilson achieve in 1973?

Answer 8

The Social Contract with the TUC

Question 9

What did the Social Contract serve as?

Answer 9

The trade unions were no longer allowed to demand wage increases

Question 10

What did Wilson manage to end?

Answer 10

the state of emergency and the three day week

Question 11

What was the cause of the surge in inflation?

Answer 11

wage increases

Question 12

Who was in charge of the economic budget in 1975?

Answer 12

Healey

Question 13

What were the key aspects of Healy’s 1975 budget?

Answer 13

• rises in taxation
• cuts to public spending

Question 14

What financial board was set up in 1974?

Answer 14

National Enterprise Board

Question 15

What was the purpose of the National Enterprise Board?

Answer 15

to increase investment and provide financial aid

Question 16

What happened to the 1975 economic policies?

Answer 16

their effectiveness was brought into question as it became clear that the social contract was not working

Question 17

Who was Wilson’s successor?

Answer 17

James Callaghan

Question 18

Why did Wilson reisgn?

Answer 18

due to old age

Question 19

What did Callaghan plan to do to improve the economic situation?

Answer 19

apply for an emergency IMF (International Monetary Fund) loan

Question 20

What is the significance of the IMF emergency loan?

Answer 20

• economy recovered
• reinforced the image of Britain as being in economic decline

Question 21

What is devolution?

Answer 21

the transfer of powers to lower levels of government

Question 22

What did Callaghan do in order to avoid a vote of no confidence from the Conservatives?

Answer 22

Lib-Lab Pact

Question 23

Where did Callaghan wish to take the policy of devolution?

Answer 23

Scotland and Wales

Question 24

What did the Devolution Act of 1978 cause?

Answer 24

1979 referendums

Question 25

What were the results of the 1979 devolution referendums in Scotland and Wales?

Answer 25

• simple majority for yes in Scotland (51.6%)
• conclusively against devolution in Wales

Question 26

What was the impact of the devolution refernedums?

Answer 26

• a simple majority in Scotland was not enough
• disappointed Scottish nationalist MPs withdrew support for Labour party

Question 27

What is the key event for the downfall of the labour party in 1979?

Answer 27

Winter of Discontent

Question 28

What was the trigger for the winter of discontent?

Answer 28

Autumn 1978- the TUC rejected a proposal of a 5% wage increase limit - encouraging higher demands from trade unions

Question 29

What were some examples of the industrial action that took place due to angered unions?

Answer 29

• disruption in transport
• strikes for public sector workers
• dustmen & gravediggers strikes

Question 30

What was the winter of discontent not as challenging as?

Answer 30

the 1974 miners strikes

Question 31

What was the result of the winter of discontent?

Answer 31

• average pay increase of 10% achieved
• public mood remained negative

Question 32

What major political event happened in 1979?

Answer 32

General Election

Question 33

Why was calling an election in 1979 a bad idea?

Answer 33

• winter of discontent soured public opinion
• changes in the political landscape
• reputation with trade unions ruined

Question 34

How did the labour demographic change due to the events leading up to the 1979 election?

Answer 34

• more (skilled & unskilled) workers began to consider voting conservative
• media favoured conservative

Question 35

What event forced the 1979 election?

Answer 35

a failed vote of no confidence on the subject of Scottish devolution

Question 36

What was the result of the 1979 election?

Answer 36

• labour only dipped by 3%
• conservative win

Question 37

What were the issues like in Northern Ireland?

Answer 37

• strong opposition to the Sunningdale agreement
• increased secretarian violence
• inherited issues

Question 38

What are some examples of the issues in Northern Ireland?

Answer 38

• Ulster Workers Council determined to bring down the Executive
• changes in prisons caused increased issues

Question 39

What was Wilson forced to reimpose due to the increased tension in Northern Ireland?

Answer 39

direct rule

Question 40

What were the changes within the prison systems?

Answer 40

Special Category was removed from terrorist prisoners; no longer considered political prisoners but criminals - this was disliked by paramilitary groups

Question 41

What are some examples of response to the status changes within prisoners?

Answer 41

• dirty protest
• blanket protests