Revision Guide 1964 - 1979: Politics Flashcards
Why did labour win in 1964?
Role of conservatives and scandles
White heat of technology
Douglas home no match
Labour Party reunited
Why did Wilson win in 1966?
Heath unable to connect with voters
More in tune with popular culture and society
liberation laws under Jenkins
Why did Wilson chose to not devalue?
Devaluation would have made his party look like a devaluation party, Attlee did it in 49.
wanted to economically catch up with foreign competitors through modernisation.
What is modernisation?
Economically catching up with the rest of the world.
What is the DEA?
Department of economic affairs, created to modernise the economy
What happened to the DEA?
It failed
Why did the DEA fail?
DEA overlapped with the Chancellor and Treasury. Callaghan didn’t know who to listen to.
Brown was impulsive, created National Plan. Had the support of unions but not the united government.
Wilson was trying to keep everyone happy rather than picking the best for the role.
Features and reasons for prices and income policies
Aim was to keep down inflation
What were the key events that lead to devaluation?
1966 sterling Crisis, part because if National Union seamen strike
1967 major docks strike
Nov 67- devaluation. Dropped 17% to £2.40
1967 EEC update
Rejected.
Devaluation crisis damages labour credibility
Rejected by deGaulle on economic grounds
What did Jenkins do when chancellor?
Used deflationary methods
Raised taxes and tightened up govt spending
Unpopular but achieves a balance of payments surplus, improving situation by 69
How did people feel about the trade unions?
60% favourable votes in 60’s
What did Macmillan and Wilson do in relation to TUC?
Tried to remain a good relationship, relied to union corporation when bringing in prices and income policies.
What did the wild cat strikes mean.
TUC leaders were losing control because they were done by local activists
TUC govt relationship was deteriorating by 66-7
Features of A Place In Strife
28 day cooling off period
Strike ballots would be imposed
Strengthen unions in dealing with employers
Industrial relations court would deal with those who borne the rules
What did A Place In Strife do?
Upset TUC and labour, lead to protests like the National Union of Mineworkers
What was the result of the months of strikes.
Having to deal with strikes, Northern Ireland and Rhodesia, lead to his compromising with the unions
Humiliating climb down bu govt
Strengths of Labour
Education, break down class barriers
Liberation laws, Abortion act 67 etc
Jenkins economics
66 election, 98 seat majority
Weaknesses of Labour
DEA failure
Not devaluing in 64 making it look like Tori’s mistake, doing it in 67 made it look like their mistake
Trade unions, seamen’s and dockers strike, In Place of Strife etc
Failure of EEC
What was the balance of payments labour inherited from the Tori’s?
£400 million deficit
Why Labour lost the election
Trade Unions
Devaluation
67 EEC rejection
Balance of payments, DEA
Why Conservatives won the election
Heath greater strengths and was not part of the establishment
Chosen because people diddnt like labour
Liberal votes went to Tories
Heath Features
New breed- state school, social background
‘Good at policies not politics’
5 years in opposition made him well prepared for govt
EEC experienced
What were heaths aims
EEC Entry
Resolving troubles in Ireland
Resolving economic problems and modernisation
Avoiding TUC and industrial disputed during modernisation
