Topic 2: 1970 election

Question 1

3

Describe the 1970 election result

Answer 1

• Con claimed remarkable victory with 330 seats
• 3.8% decrease in turnout caused by labour voter apathy
• TV programme condemned Wilson’s team as ‘yesterday’s men’

Question 2

5

List reasons for 1970 Labour election loss

Answer 2

• Trade Union relations
• Economic failures (e.g. ‘pound in your pocket’)
• EEC rejection
• Wider FP and declining status of Britain
• Popular appeal of Con policy

Question 3

6 (Negative 2, Positive 4)

Describe Labour’s misleading 1970 election recovery

Answer 3

Negative:

• 23 points behind in January 1969
• Charisma of 1966 not matched with young voters disillusioned by Vietnam

Positive:

• 10.5 point lead in February 1970
• Major policy success in Northern Ireland
• Balance of payments surplus after crises in past
• Wilson dominated weak personality of Heath

Question 4

4

Describe Conservative factors that led to 1970 election victory

Answer 4

• Selsdon Man
• Heath had image of competence and hard-work
• Powell’s words increased support due to party association
• Special polls showed narrow Tory lead in marginal seats

Question 5

5

Describe the terms of Seldson Man

Answer 5

Shadow Cabinet met at Selsdon Park in early 1970 to decide election platform

• econ policy to focus on reducing state intervention and deregulation - shift away from post-war consensus
• focus on achieving entry to EEC
• greater competition in industry
• reducing personal and corporate taxes

Question 6

5

Describe the effects of Selsdon Man

Answer 6

• Shift away from consensus politics
• Tougher line on trade unions
• Greater efficiency in industry independent of government control
• Return to values of individualism
• Doubts it could lead to mass unemployment and social unrest - Wilson declared it ‘ruthless’