PWC PMs (T3) Flashcards
Who was PM 1945-1951?
Attlee
Who was PM 1951-1955?
Churchill
Who was PM 1955-1957?
Eden
Who was PM 1957-1963?
Macmillan
Who was PM 1963-1964?
Douglas-Home
Who was PM 1964-1970?
Wilson
Who was PM 1970-1974?
Heath
Who was PM 1974-1976?
Wilson
Who was PM 1976-1979?
Callaghan
When was Attlee PM?
1945-1951
When was Churchill PM?
1951-1955
When was Eden PM?
1955-1957
When was Macmillan PM?
1957-1963
When was Douglas-Home PM?
1963-1964
When was Wilson PM for the first time?
1964-1970
When was Heath PM?
1970-1974
When was Wilson PM for the second time?
1974-1976
When was Callaghan PM?
1976-1979
Which PM oversaw a government which promised to put in place the recommendations of Beveridge?
Attlee
When Attlee was PM, what policies were established?
- The consensus of a mixed economy
- Welfare State
- Keynes
- Cooperation with Trade Unions
The Popularity of the policies introduced by Attlee led to what?
Led to the 1947 “Conservative Industrial Charter”,
In which that Party embraced consensus.
Churchill returned to power in the 1951 due to what?
Splits in the Labour Party.
What did the Industrial Charter do for the Conservatives?
It made them seem acceptable again
In the 1951 election why did the Conservatives manage to win?
- People supported the Conservative privatisation of Iron and Steel
- People were convinced that Labour’s top rate of tax at 45% was too high
What was Eden remembered for in his short time as PM?
The foreign scandal
What was the foreign scandal that Eden was remembered for?
He made a secret plan with France and Israel to use force to protect the Suez Canal from an Egyptian takeover
Why did Eden’s secret plan fail (the Suez crisis)?
In the context of the Cold War, this was unacceptable to the USA and the USA forced Britain to back down
It embarrassed us as a country + made us seem subservient to the USA
What was one of the main things that Macmillan did during his time as PM?
Increased Government spending dramatically
What happened due to Macmillan’s increase in government spending?
Members of his government resigned in 1959
What was people’s disposable income like during Macmillan’s time as PM?
He oversaw the boom of credit & growth in accessible mortgages and easier borrowing of money.
Therefore people had more money to spend
What did Macmillan do in the way of welfare provisions?
Ambitious and successful in a house building programme and schools/education programme.
Why did Douglas-Home become PM in 1963?
Due to the sudden resignation of Macmillan
Why did Macmillan suddenly resign?
He thought he only had 2 weeks left to live, however he lived until the 80s
What was Douglas-Home focussed on campaigning for?
Trying to narrow Labour’s lead in the opinion polls
What was the result of Douglas-Home’s strong campaigning during his time as PM?
Labour under Harold Wilson won the 1964 election - but only by four seats
Wilson (1) became PM at a time of what?
Huge balance of payment deficit
Which two liberal social reforms did Wilson (1) introduce?
- 1965 Race Relations Act
- 1967 Abortion Act
Give negatives of Wilson’s (1) leadership
- Unemployment rose
- He fell out with the Unions but did not assert power
- In 1967 he was forced to devalue the pound
What did Heath attempt to end and why?
Attempted to end Consensus politics by introducing more free market reforms
Why was Heath forced to make a U-turn?
Cuts in income tax and government spending soared inflation
Which PM introduced the 3 day work week?
Heath - also all electricity had to be turned off after 6pm
What caused the 3 day work week?
Heath tried to stand up to Trade Unions over Miners Pay but was confronted by crippling strikes - these strikes lead to there not being enough electricity for the country
What happened in 1975 under Wilson’s (2) leadership?
Labour abandoned the commitment to full employment in an attempt to limit inflation and balance the budget
What did Wilson (2) try to do during his time as PM?
Attempts were made to repeal the Industrial Relations Act and replace it with a social contract to agree a voluntary wages and prices agreement with the Unions.
When was Britain forced to take a $4bn from the IMF to cope with the economic crisis?
1976
Which PM was forced to take a $4bn from the IMF to cope with the economic crisis?
Callaghan
What happened as a consequence of the $4bn loan?
- Britain had to make a 20% cut in public spending as a condition of the loan
- Huge strikes
Why did Callaghan face huge strikes?
Huge strikes because of a wage freeze (a condition of the loan)
What were the huge strikes because of a wage freeze (a condition of the loan) known as?
The “Winter of Discontent”
