Topic 2: Wilson and Politics (1964-70) Flashcards
3
Describe problems Wilson faced in 1964
- Inherited budget deficit of £750 million
- Balance of payments at £800m
- Slim HoC majority of 4 - vulnerable to rebellion
4
Describe the ideology/policies of Wilson (1964-70)
- Resigned from cabinet in Bevan rebellion of 1951
- However supported nuclear deterrent and trade union reform
- Pragmatic centre of party - equated socialism with public control, not ownership
- Planning of exports and science/tech
3
Describe Wilson’s image (1964-70)
- Classless - departure from etonians
- First PM educated at state secondary school
- Relaxed and skillful performer on TV
5
Describe Party Unity under Wilson (1964-70)
- Triumvirate
- Fear of Jenkins/Callaghan plot
- Kitchen Cabinet
- Simulatenous promotion of Bevanites (e.g. Castle) and Gaitskellites (e.g. Crossland)
- Donnelly-Waytt revolt 1965
4
Describe the triumvirate
- Brown placed as Economic Affairs Sec and First Sec of State
- Callaghan as Chancellor
- Brown promised greater power than treasury
- Brown bitter at leadership elec loss
3
Describe the Jenkins/Callaghan plot
- Wilson wary of Callaghan/Jenkin’s support for devaluation after Seamen’s Strike 1966
- beleived it was plot to replace Brown/Wilson with Callaghan/Jenkins
- this is despite differences in European policy between latter 2
5
Describe the kitchen cabinet
- Comprised of economic advisors and inner circle
- Met in No10 kitchen
- inc Peter Shore, Barbara Castle
- Gave ministers little access to him
- Reinforced Wilson’s suspicions of party rivalries
5
Describe the Donnelly-Wyatt revolt 1965
- By-election defeat had reduced Lab majority to 3
- Revolt from 2 right-wing backbenchers (Wyatt & Donnelly)
- Refused to support the renationalisation of the steel industry
- Sufficient to block the nationalisation Bill
- Forced Wilson to delay steel nationalisation until after 1966 election
3
Describe the pretext to the 1966 election
- Douglas-Home replaced by Heath in 1965
- Wilson dismissed 1965 election despite calls from many inc Benn
- 4.5% swing to Labour govt in Hull Jan 1966 by-election - vindicated Wilson of his decision
3
Describe the 1966 election campaign
- Economic difficulties blamed on previous administration
- Pledged to join EEC
- Tories split over oil sanctions in Rhodesia
3
Describe the results and effects of the 1966 election
- Majority of 96
- only 2nd election to give Lab big enough majority to secure full parliamentary term without 3rd party support (a feat not accomplished again until 1997)
- no repeat of Wyatt-Donnelly revolt
5
Describe Wilson’s attempts to reform the House of Lords
- Attempted restructure in 1968
- Hereditary peerage would be replaced by a 2 tier system of appointments (voting and non-voting)
- Those peers entitled to vote would be appointed by the PM
- Opposed by both right and left (unlikely alliance of Powell and Foot)
- Bill withdrawn in 1969
2
Describe Wilson’s attempted reform of local govt
- Redcliffe-Maud Report 1969, suggested England should be divided into 8 provinces with 3 metropolitan authorities
- Met with much resistance and nothing came of it
3
Describe Wilson’s nuclear deterrent policy (1964-70)
- Abandoned identification with unilateral disarmament
- Continued with Polaris project and went ahead with 4 of 5 planned submarines projects
- Only concession was assurance that there would be no pretence for go-it-alone British nuclear action - seemed unlikely in any case
3
Describe nationalist movements during Wilson 1st term
Just Scotland and Wales
- Emergence of Scottish/Welsh nationalism
- By-election defeats e.g. Lab majority of 16k in Hamilton overturned by SNP in 1967
- PC/SNP threatened Lab strongholds
2
Describe the end of the Post-War Consensus (1970)
- Trade unions increasingly uncooperative
- Selsdon Man called for end to consensus politics
4
Describe NI under Terrence O’Neil (1963-69)
- Aimed to accomodate unsettled Catholic nationalists
- Invited Irish PMs Lemass and Lynch to visit Belfast in 1964 and 1967
- Hard-line sections of Orange Order led revolt
- Ian Paisley set up rival Protestant Unionist Party, further splitting unionist vote after formation of NILP
NILP - Northern Ireland Labour Party
5
Describe civil rights marches in NI (1964-70)
- Accussations of discrimination towards catholics in edu, housing, gerrymandering, etc
- Protest marches held in 1968
- Some marches attacked by loyalists - 10 killed inc 9yo boy
- Complaints RUC had failed to protect catholics
- Apprentice Boys
4
Describe the Apprentice Boys
- Loyalist organisation
- Annual march in 1969 in Derry attacked by nationalists in Bogside (Catholic area)
- RUC tried to storm Bogside but held back by 2 days of rioting
- Global TV broadcast showed scenes of RUC officers beating Catholics
5
Describe govt action in Northern Ireland (1964-70)
- Riots spread to other towns and cities
- Stormont govt offering of concessions on housing and electoral boundaries sparked rioting from loyalists
- Callaghan (Home Sec) visited NI twice in quick succession
- August 1969, Wilson govt sent in British Army troops to disarm RUC in attempt to keep peace
- Orangemen-dominated B-Specials disbanded
3
Describe ‘one man one vote’
- Voting in local elections limited to property ratepayers and spouses
- Disenfranchised Catholics who were more likely to be renters
- Local authorities very powerful due to general Westminster non-involvement (until 1969)
4
List the causes for the emergence of the Troubles
- Political factors
- Demonstrations
- Policing
- Social and economic factors
4
Describe how political factors led to the emergence of the Troubles
- FPTP voting + gerrymandering - UUP domination
- Derry had Catholic majority yet lacked Catholic MP or Stormont rep
- Failure of O’Neil reforms
- OMAV
2
Describe how demonstrations led to the emergence of the Troubles
- Civil rights movements
- apprentice boys
2
Describe how policing led to the emergence of the troubles
- RUC (97% Protestant)
- orangemen dominated B specials
3
Describe how social and economic factors led to the emergence of the troubles
- Catholic unemployment double that of Protestants
- job discrimination
- housing not built in deprived Catholic South Ward in 1963 despite housing expansion (seemed to be limited to Protestant areas)
