Past paper questions Flashcards
Assess the seriousness of the problems facing the Labour governments of 1974–1979.
Problem 1
Splits in Labour government:
-Split over Britains membership of the EEC.
-Wilson renegotiated terms and managed to negotiate a reduction in Britains contribution to the EEC budget.
-Held a national referendum on wether to stay or leave EEC 5 June 1975. - Result 2:1 vote in favor of continued membership.
-This problem was not a serious one as there was a clear majority and therefore solution. It did not pose threat to labors leadership or to the safety of the country.
Problem 2
Bad relations with the trade unions.
-1971 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT -failed.
-Social contract produced:
-Trade unions agreed to co-operate control wage increase.
-Government promised improved welfare benefits & keep prices down.
-Free collective bargaining over wages - no statutory policy.
-reduced seriousness of issue, had slightly uneasy co-operation that lasted until winter of discontent 78-79.
-Failed to stop wave of strikes 78-79. - Serious issue for economy and running of country.
Bad relations were serious for party - party depended on union support in early days - Big unions had ‘Block votes’ at labour conferences - very influential.
Problem 3
Economic Issues:
-Most serious problems.
-Wages rose faster than growth (miners strike settled with 29% wage increase in 74)
-Inflation reached 30% in 1975.
-Unemployment went from 542,000 in 74 to over 1.3 mil 2 years later.
- War with Israel +Arabs led to higher oil prices.
-Stagnating with growth rates, low productivity, low investment.
-Wilson resigned - March 76 - lack of confidence in the pound - value fell.
- Solution - IMF loan 1976 - Healy asked International Monetary Fund for loan of 3600million dollars - to support pound.
-problem - meant GOV spending cut by 2 billion.
Problem 4
Winter of discontent, 78-79:
-Gov tried to control inflation - unions had to agree to wage rises of no more than 5%,
- Disliked by Unions - seen as abandonment of social contract.
-Strikes in winter 78-79 - public services such as dustmen and gravediggers demanding 40% pay rise.
-Impact of strikes dramatic - press, unsympathetic to labour/union, used as evidence for decline of country. Sensationalised situation.
-Strikes settles by pay rise.
-Public perception that labour could not control unions.
-Very serious lost many peoples confidence in Labour government, made them look weak.
Asses the reasons why Thatcher won the 1979 election.
Conservative Campaign.
-Conservative campaign focused on earning votes of traditional labour voters, first time voters and voters in marginal constituencies.
-Populism was used in attempt to win over working class labour voters (E.g. Thatcher was photographed tasting tea and holding a calf.) Portrayed as a “Housewives friend”. to win over working class housewives, traditonal Labour voters.
-“Labour isn’t working” campaign 1978 - picture of snaking queue to unemployment office - Labors negative impact on economy.
Main reason failure of the labour government.
-Election largely decided in London and Midlands, 40 seats changed hands from Labour to Conservative.
Winter of discontent, 78-79:
-Public services strikes demanding 40% pay rise. (leading to piling of rubbish in the streets etc.)
-Press unsympathetic/sensational to Labour/Unions presented labour as weak - used WOD as decline of country.
-Government caved to pay rise, perceived as weak and not in control of unions.
Economic Issues:
-Unemployment went from 542,000 in 74 to over 1.3 mil 2 years later.
-Stagnating with growth rates, low productivity, low investment.
-Wilson resigned - March 76 - lack of confidence in the pound - value fell.
- Solution - IMF loan 1976 - Healy asked International Monetary Fund for loan of 3600million dollars - to support pound.
-problem - meant GOV spending cut by 2 billion.
Liberal Vote
-liberal kept hold of most strongholds.
-However, total vote dropped by over a million.
-Voters blamed them for keeping Callaghans government in office since 1977 (The Lib-Lab Pact - By election loses meant labors slim majority in HOC disappeared. Deal betweenCallaghan and Lib leader steel - 13 Lib MPS agreed to support gov.)
-Midland areas, collapse of Lib vote, hand seat to Conservative, even though labour vote did not significantly decline.
Most Important reasons was the economic circumstances and labour inability to deal with them.
To what extent was there a social revolution under Thatcher?
NHS reforms:
-Aimed to make NHS more efficient by applying business principles to its administration.
-Hospitals became self governing trust, had to look after their own budget.
-Gps became fund-holders - hand to manage their own budgets.
-NHS services expected to compete with each other to provide the most efficient and cost-effective service to GPs.
-Many believed in was much needed financial discipline for NHS.
-However, some people were highly critical of this, claiming first stage of privatisation, putting profit motive above patient care.
Schools
-Concern about education system:
-Quality of secondary education: two tier qualification - O levels +CSEs.
-Thatchers solution: GCSE - replaces both in 1986, qualification for all levels of ability.
-1988 - national curriculum introduced - regular testing.
-However, there were strong oppositions to these educational changes:
-Concern GCSE not academically rigorous enough.
-content of curriculum (e.g. English and History) disputed.
Universities
-Cut budgets - forced unis to seek alternative budget/accept more students.
-1988 - Uni Funding Council - reflect the needs of economy, not just focusing on pure research.
-Removed polytechnics from local authority control - under control of University Funding Council.
Council house sale
-Thaterism valued self-reliance and individualism.
-one of her first action, allowed long-term council tenants the right to buy their houses.
-encourage home-ownership - tax relief on mortgages.
-during her premiership - gov spending on subsiding mortgages doubled - house sales up 12%.
Conclusion:
-Whilst there was certainly social change, resistance to thatchers policies was every present in society, and the impact of the policies (such as GCSE) were limited and cannot be considered revolutionary, despite the undeniable definite shift towards free-market principles, privatization, and individual responsibility
Assess the reasons why the Conservatives won the 1970 election?
Labour weaknesses
Willson’s Complacency:
-Opinion poll before elction suggested that Wilson had 51% approval compared to conservative 28% for Edward Heath.
-Wilson too relaxed during campaign.
-Publication of poor trade figures just before election day undermined Labors claim of the economy doing well.
Disillusionment of the Labour Supporters:
-Defeat in 1970 may be due to labor supporters not bothering to vote.
-Barbara Castle noted a “under current of detachment among our own activists and party audiences.”
-Party membership dropped from 830,000 in 1964 to 680,000 in 1970.
-Many activist and MPs viewed the Lab gov as to right wing:
-Britains foreign policy supportive of USA, especially Vietnam war.
-Too much spent on defence, not enough on welfare, education, economic regeneration.
-Working class made poorer by govs policies.
-Abandoned historic interest in socialism and working class - attempting to curb trade union power ‘In place of strife’.
-1970 Equal Pay act, attempted to get the vote of politically motivated young people - they were more preoccupied protesting Vietnam war.
Failure of “In Place of Strife”
-White paper written in ‘69 proposing an act to reduce power of trade union - never passed.
-Lost voters who had voted for Wilsons promise to modernise Britain.
-Showed Trade unions as more powerful that gov.
Conservative Strengths
Policy Proposals
-Industrial relations law - reformed to reduce number of disruptive strikes + inflationary pay settlements.
-Less state intervention in industry, especially if enterprises were loss-making.
-attempts to control prices and incomes by law would end.
-Britain would apply to join EEC.
These policies challenged assumptions that had been accepted by both parties at end of WW2. gave them novelty.
Edward Heath’s Leadership
-Relentless attack on economic record of Lab gov. e.g. Since 1964 Retail Price Index (measure of inflation) had risen 33%, unemployment risen by over 200,000).
-Press unanimously attributed conserve win - Heath’s leadership. Daily mail ‘guts and leadership’
-Dealt firmly with major challenge to his authority - sacked Enoch Powell who opposed commonwealth immigration + govs race relation legislations. Powell gave speech predicting race riots - popular with white working class - threatened by immigrant work force.
-Heath disagreed and fired him firmly, despite Powells popularity - heath was supported by con party.
‘The most important reason for Conservative political domination in the period from 1979 to 1997
was the weakness of the Labour party.’ How far do you agree?
Agreeing with the statement:
Labour problems in 79:
-Government could not deal with the winter of discontent (public services on strike, inflation rising, wages frozen.)
-Government could not fix the economy. (Inflation reaching average of 25% a year,Unemployment went from 542,000 in 74 to over 1.3 mil 2 years later.)
-However, labors vote actually increased to 36.9% in 79, however, many liberal voters in marginal seats were convinced by thatchers attack of socialism and trade unions, and viewed labor as to weak to deal with these issues.
1983 election:
-Labour vote dropped from 11.5 million to 8.5 million, giving Thatcher the stronghold, despite the conservative cote decreasing.
-Labour party had split in 1981. new Social democrat party allied with liberals won 7.7 million votes - splitting the anti-conservative vote, allowed conservative gains in traditional labour seats up North.
-Previous labour voters turned away - unpopular policies, Michael Foot as leader - Foot lacked assured manner on TV - his unilateral nuclear disarmament, nationalisation of industry and government regulation seemed old fashioned.
-Labour manifesto described as ‘longest suicide note in history’ - so out of touch with country.
1987 election:
-Kinnocks style: long winded in speeches - Thatcher - very strong leader - strong hold and colleagues and growing international reputation.
-However labour gained 1.5 mil votes and 20 seats since ‘83.
Disagreeing:
Popularity/success of economic policies:
-Howes deflationary polices, though unpopular were successful: rate of prices rising dropped form 18% in 1980 to 4.5% in 1983.
-value of the pound increased - boosted financial sector.
-Privatisation popular with those who bought shares in new companies. In 1979 there were 3 mil priv shareholders - by 1990 - 11 million. gave many people a stake in success of economy.
Social policies:
The Housing Act, 1980, council tenants purchase council homes - discounted price. 1987 more than 1 million sold to tenants under the scheme - proved very popular with those tenants -moved up housing ladder. shift in voting behavior among the “aspirational” working class towards voting Conservative.
Election of 1987:
-Conservatives won more votes than ‘79 or ‘83 despite losing twelves seats.
-Unemployment was falling and the pound was strong.
-Conservative benefitted from left-wing vote.
-Labour actually gained 1.5 mil votes - so not as weak as 83.
‘Divisions within the Conservative party were the main reason for their defeat in 1997.’ How far do
you agree?
Yes:
Divided over European integration:
-Ongoing point of contention – however despite these divisions they still won the ‘92 election.
-1991 Maastricht treaty: established European Union, Europe would have a common currency = euro, defence and foreign policy.
-Major managed to negotiate out of single currency and the social chapter.
-However – still opposed by Eurosceptics in own part, and labour party – however the Maastricht treaty signed 2 months before conservative victory (+21) at election.
Divide over majors’ leadership:
-Followed strong leadership of M. Thatcher.
-Lacked authority, uncharismatic, targeted by the media as a result.
However:
-1995 conservative leadership election re-elected Major.
-and he won (+21 only) the 1992 election.
However, there was other reasons for their loss:
Economic reasons:
-Sep 1992 – inflation tipped British economy into depression.
-Unemployment rose – GDP diminished.
-The exchange rate was too high.
-Value of the pound fell.
-Major and Lamont (chancellor) - tried to sustain pound – increased interest and getting Bank of England to buy pounds – unsuccessful - ‘black Wednesday’ Britain withdrew from Exchange Rate Mechanism.
-ruined idea of good economic management by conservatives – had little to offer Britain.
‘New labour’
-Kinnock – 1983-92 – expelled extreme left members of party.
-Tony Blair – only 41 years – became leader in ‘94.
-Blair reconciled labour party to Thatcher’s reforms – manged to get rid of clause IV from party’s 1918 constitution – which had pledged to nationalise Britain’s industry.
-Blair appealed to conservative-supporting businessmen – reassuring them about labours policies.
-Won support of leading figures in Media – Rupert Murdoch – owner of the Sun.
‘The Labour governments of 1964–1970 and 1974–1979 failed to solve the problems they faced.’
How far do you agree?
How far do you agree?
‘74-79 – No, very few problems were solved.
Splits in Labour Government:
-between left and right factions – extreme left figures like Michael Foot and Tony Benn – clashed with moderates in party.
-divided over entry to EEC
-Wilson held a national referendum in 1975 to settle issue – the stay in the EEC side won.
Trade Unions:
-Legislation failed (the 1971 Industrial relations act had been unnecessary) - solution: The social contract 1973 – unions agreed to co-operate to control wages increase + return to free collective bargaining over wages – no statutory income.
-Problem: social contract did not solve nations economic difficulties – wage increases continued to exceed inflation – cynics thought social contract just gave Trade unions more power.
-Jack Jones, leader of transport workers trade union, was voted the most powerful man in the country by an opinion poll.
-any progress/co-operation made by social contract ended in winter of discontent.
Winter of discontent, 78-79:
-Public services strikes demanding 40% pay rise. (leading to piling of rubbish in the streets etc.)
-Press unsympathetic/ sensational to Labour/ Unions presented labour as weak - used WOD as decline of country.
-Government caved to pay rise, perceived as weak and not in control of unions.
Economic Issues:
-Unemployment went from 542,000 in 74 to over 1.3 mil 2 years later.
-Stagnating with growth rates, low productivity, low investment.
-Wilson resigned - March 76 - lack of confidence in the pound - value fell.
- Solution - IMF loan 1976 - Healy asked International Monetary Fund for loan of 3600million dollars - to support pound.
-problem - meant GOV spending cut by 2 billion.
64-70:
Race Relations:
Arrivals from Commonwealth
-Low-paid jobs and working class areas led to racial prejudice.
-Unpopular with Lab voters
-gov tightened immigration rules ‘65 and ‘68.
-Race Relation Act attempted to tackle issues, but it was difficult to secure convictions.
The National Plan Sep 1965:
-Wilson creates Dept of Economic Affairs (DEA)
-Target 3.8% growth over 6 years
-Treasury did not work with the DEA
-Deflation undermined the National Plan
-Failed but ‘coherent visions for the future’=did increase popularity in ‘66
